The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has set its sights on rolling out a development plan for Historic Port Royal & the Palisadoes over a four year period at the cost of J$4.6 billion dollars.
Dr Damian Graham, UDC’s General Manager in speaking at a session organised by the Jamaica Institution of Engineers as part of its week of activities promised that the plan will be informed by a process of stakeholder collaborations inclusive of residents, government agencies and the private sector. He pointed to the importance of the plan in ‘facilitating sustainable investments in Port Royal’s heritage attractions, natural environment, the town of Port Royal and its residents and transforming it into a viable Cultural Heritage Town.
Continuing Dr. Graham noted that this will include the upgrading of infrastructure, public amenities, housing and the generation of greater economic activity while paying attention to the sensitivity of the environment’
Attention will also be given to potential areas for entertainment, supporting a Port of Call and a comprehensive look at Mobility Options for the area subject to carrying capacities and environmental impacts. In fact, short term aspects of the sustainable transformation of Port Royal are already materialising with the publicly announced installation of a floating dock system by the Port Authority of Jamaica by 2019. This will allow the return of cruise ships to the Kingston Harbour and will allow the ecological preservation of the sensitive Port Royal marine system.

The UDC partnered with the Jamaica Institution of Engineers in sponsoring the
week of activities spanning September 19 to 22, 2018 under the theme Engineering
Our Future through Celebrating Our Heritage.
In going forward, the UDC will also enrich the draft development plan by
doing a SWOT analysis of previous plans, increasing its examination of the geography
of the area, undertaking the various environmental assessment plans before finalising
and submitting for approval through the regulatory bodies and Cabinet
The UDC is also spearheading the successful revitalisation of the Downtown
Kingston through its strategic plans which is already bearing fruit with its project
management of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building which is nearing completion.
Other developments facilitated by the UDC through private sector investors in
downtown Kingston include the rehabilitation of the Victoria Pier into a recreation and
dining area, the on-going repurposing of the Oceana Hotel into Caribbean Place, a
mixed use apartment and commercial complex and the sale of lands to GraceKennedy
for the building of their headquarters among other numerous projects.