Sam Clark Mountain

202 acres of approved development land above Jamaica’s north coast

acres, about 82 hectares: 202
for subdivision development: Approved
to the beach at Priory: 15 min
asking price: US$11.8M

The land

Large parcels rarely come to market on Jamaica’s north coast, and rarer still with approvals already secured. This 202-acre property at Laughlands sits in the hills above Priory, between St. Ann’s Bay and Runaway Bay, in one of the island’s most established tourism corridors.

The land rises to open, grassy ridges with uninterrupted views over the Caribbean Sea, the coastal plain and the gated communities of Richmond Estates and Paradisiac Beach Club below. Below the ridges, the slopes fall away through mixed woodland, fruit trees and bamboo to a river that runs along part of the property. Farm tracks already reach the upper pastures.

Subdivision development approval is in place, which removes the regulatory delay that usually comes with land of this size. A qualified developer can proceed directly to engineering, design and construction. The site suits a luxury residential community, an eco-resort, or a mix of the two, and the existing plans could be revised to increase dwelling density, subject to approval.

The surrounding area is changing. The government is studying an extension of the North–South Highway from Mammee Bay to Discovery Bay, and dualising sections of the North Coast Highway as far as Drax Hall. Either project would improve access to the property along the coast and from Kingston.

The farm track along the upper ridge, looking east. The sea is on the left.

What the land offers

View north from the ridge to the Caribbean Sea

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Sea views from the ridge

The upper pastures look north over the Caribbean Sea, Richmond Estates and Paradisiac Beach Club, and east along the coast towards St. Mary.

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River frontage and fruit trees

A river runs along part of the land through shaded, wooded gullies, and mature fruit trees, bananas and bamboo grow on the slopes. These are natural features to design a development around.

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Approval already in hand

Subdivision development approval is in place, so a buyer can go straight to engineering, design and construction instead of spending years in the planning process. The approved plans can also be revisited to raise density, subject to fresh approval.

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A rare scale
At 202 acres, this is a scale seldom offered on the north coast. It is enough room for a full residential community, an eco-resort, or both.
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Close to the resort coast
Priory’s beaches are about 15 minutes away by car, St. Ann’s Bay about 20 and Ocho Rios about 35. The tourism corridor between Ocho Rios and Runaway Bay is one of the island’s busiest.
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Infrastructure on the way
The government has proposed extending the North–South Highway west from Mammee Bay to Discovery Bay, a route that would pass close to the property. Feasibility studies were under way as of 2026.