After two years petitioning the local government, Barbuda has finally approved actor Robert De Niro and billionaire James Packer’s plans to acquire the former K Club Resort’s 251 acres on Coco Point.

Adding to the original resort property, De Niro and Packer will be leasing an additional 304 acres on neighbouring land. The resort is being called Paradise Found by the duo. Their plans call for 50 villas and cottages, six over-water villas, boat moorings, a superyacht marina, an airstrip and a casino.

Barbuda is located south-east of Anguilla and just north of its twin island country, Antigua. While Antigua has welcomed development and tourism, Barbuda’s beauty has largely remained uncompromised. The island is free of the genre of large-scale resorts that many international travelers expect and overnight accommodations on the island are currently limited to small cottage-style lodging.

De Niro and Packer will change that reality, but are assuring locals that the project will be completed in a way Barbudans find acceptable.