PALM trees sway in the cooling trade winds like a tourist after one too many rum punches. The landscape is as glossy and green as the tiny tree frogs that make a big noise day and night. A hand-painted sign on the porch of a bright-pink wooden house reads: “Too blessed to be stressed.”

Welcome to Antigua: the newest second-home destination in the Caribbean. The island is an actual drop in the ocean — Antigua is 14 miles long — and life is a beach. In fact, there is one for every day of the year. At 68,000, the population is smaller than the average London postcode’s. There seem to be more dogs than people and St John’s, the pretty Georgian capital, stretches the definition of city.

Only about 100 Britons own property here — mainly in the 20-year-old Jolly Harbour development. There are probably more on just one beach in nearby Barbados. But that is all about to change.

At present there is no income tax. Instead there are myriad small taxes on sales, imports and some exports, but there is talk now of introducing an income tax to fund infrastructure improvements. Not before time, perhaps, as even the shortest journey can become an uncomfortable epic on the island’s roads.

Residency rules are also being re-examined. Given the island’s colonial history and its membership of the Commonwealth, Britons who wish to buy a second home here are unlikely to encounter any difficulty. However, the exact number of days needed to qualify for residency has yet to be finalised. The decision, they say, is imminent. But matters can be imminent in the Caribbean for months, if not for years.

“Antigua is about 15 years behind Barbados,” says Cameron Fraser, a British-born local entrepreneur who, along with his brother, Ian, owns many of the island’s most successful businesses. “But the Government is finally working with businesses.”

The Frasers have joined forces with La Perla, an established firm of international resort developers, to begin work on a large development of apartments, townhouses and villas at Nonsuch Bay. Located on the Atlantic-facing coast of Antigua, Nonsuch is a perfect horseshoe cove opening on to a strip of white sand. The sea is as blue as the sky and the small hummingbirds that flit between the hibiscus flowers.

An incline means that almost every property will enjoy a sea view. This won’t be the island’s biggest development but, they hope, it will be one of the best. “We had planned to build a few more properties,” says Cameron Fraser. “But we reconsidered and went for very low density.”

Antigua has a unique opportunity to make development sustainable for businesses, locals and the environment. “We don’t want to repeat the mistakes other islands have made.”

Of the 69 apartments, three quarters have been sold, mainly to British buyers. They range from one to three bedrooms and start at $298,000. Given the current exchange rate, this is about £154,000, which wouldn’t buy a beach hut in Barbados.

Echoing the local architectural style, each has as much outdoor space as possible and wood is used everywhere, inside and out. The villas will sit on the ridge commanding views out to sea and inland. So far only one has been built but more than half have been sold. “We sell them as plots,” explains Cameron Fraser. These start at $433,000. “Our clients want to build to their own specifications — we can’t just offer them all a standard product.” One buyer has bought two plots of land to build a super-villa. “To keep quality high we insist on sign-off for all designs.”

The best value is offered by the townhouses. Located on the other side of the development, they face a private marina surrounded by mangroves. Each has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a plunge pool and private moorings. Aimed squarely at the huge and wealthy sailing community, they start at $525,000.

All those living the La Perla lifestyle have the use of four swimming pools, a clubhouse, tennis courts, a deli, health club and beachfront café. Staff can stock the fridge before you arrive and a gate keeps it all safe. The basic annual service charge starts at $3,000 — and includes hurricane insurance, which is much needed hereabouts.

Nonsuch Bay is 25 minutes from St John’s. To locals this is so far that it’s “behind God’s back”. Antigua is eight hours from the UK and it has never been easier or cheaper to get there. British Airways and Virgin fly from Gatwick and bmi offers direct flights from Manchester.

Antigua remains old-fashioned and appears much like Britain in the 1950s. Every second building is a church and they are packed every Sunday. When the shops are shut, they are shut. Even road signs carry references to passages in the Bible: one exhorts motorists to drive as we would have others drive.

Links to Britain remain strong. The phonebook is a litany of Smiths and Spencers. Cars are driven (badly) on the left. Cricket is a national obsession: walk up Vivian Richards Street and stop for a chat with his mother, Grathel. The Queen still smiles down from many walls and, as Christmas approaches, tinsel sparkles in the sunshine. Santa Claus will soon hold his annual beach party.

Blessed indeed are those with a second home here.

For details of Nonsuch Bay, contact Newfound Property International: 020-8605 9520, www.newfoundproperty.com

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