Big changes are coming to St Lucy as a multimillion-dollar development featuring nearly 400 homes and a luxury hotel is set to rise where the Arawak Cement Plant now stands at Checker Hall.
On Friday, executives from TCL Group — owners of the Arawak site — revealed they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading construction firm Jada Group. Together, they plan to turn the sprawling 190-acre property overlooking Maycocks Beach into a vibrant new residential and tourism hub.
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The ambitious project, valued at around US$500 million, includes affordable and high-end housing, a branded hotel with private residences, and commercial areas. It marks a bold new chapter for the site, which has been home to cement production for over 40 years.
With Arawak’s clinker operations having ended in 2023, TCL chairman David Inglefield and general manager Gonzalo Rueda Castillo confirmed the plant will now be fully decommissioned, with equipment removed and a workforce restructuring underway. Just over 40 employees are currently based at the plant, and some are expected to be made redundant following union negotiations.
Despite the closure, Castillo assured that Barbados’ cement supply would continue, sourced from other plants within CARICOM, such as Trinidad and Jamaica.
“The site is now better suited for a higher purpose — to be transformed into a residential community that benefits Barbados,” he said.
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Jada Group’s CEO Philip Tempro shared the vision for the new development, emphasizing that the first phase would focus on building the homes. He added that the planned hotel would be a high-end, branded property designed to maximise the natural beauty of the landscape.
“We want to create something spectacular that not only brings in substantial revenue but also creates jobs — around 500 during construction and potentially up to 800 permanent positions once the project is completed,” Tempro said.
He noted that while the north of Barbados has remained relatively underdeveloped, projects like Pendry Hotel and Sandals’ Beaches Hotel are already changing that narrative — and this latest development will further cement the area’s rising profile.
“This will be the new northern light — one of the largest projects the country has seen. It’s an exciting time for Barbados and for St Lucy,” Tempro added.
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Although pricing for the homes has not yet been disclosed, Tempro assured buyers that the houses will be hurricane resistant and fitted with photovoltaic systems to promote sustainability.
Meanwhile, Castillo stressed the importance of ensuring the development aligns with national goals for sustainable tourism.
“We feel a strong moral satisfaction that this project supports Barbados’ vision for sustainable growth. We’ve taken great care to plan something with lasting value for the people of St Lucy and the entire country,” he said.
“This isn’t about high-rise towers or dense development. It’s about legacy and community.”
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