Sir Richard Branson’s $75 million plans to make Mosquito Island into “the most eco-friendly island in the world” have been finalised, and preliminary work on the resort has commenced, the billionaire said. 
In a March 4 interview, Sir Richard said that planning delays had previously stalled his 2007 proposal to construct a small private resort with up to 20 villas, which will feature renewable energy and “green technologies.”
“We have every single box ticked now. Work has already started, and I think the entire project will have finished about two years from now. It’s full steam ahead now,” he said.
Though the Virgin Islands’ planning process doesn’t take a “lot longer” than his native Great Britain’s, it has taken a long time to finish the necessary steps, he added.
Sir Richard said that his goal for the island remains the same as it did since 2007, when he purchased it for $20 million from Edward and Jocelyn Fredkin.
“The reason that I bought Mosquito Island was simply to protect it. There was talk of it becoming a hotel. There’s some beautiful islands out here; they’re not spoiled yet,” he said.
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