Planning approval has been granted for four tourist apartments at Tom Moore's Tavern.

The two-bedroom units will be built in two blocks to the east and north-east of the Grade One-listed building, and will be accompanied by a sewage treatment plant.

The Historic Buildings Advisory Committee did not object to the plans, but the Bermuda National Trust initially objected due to the proximity of the units to land zoned as nature reserve. The Trust also said the buildings would "detract from the setting of the listed building".

Tom Moore's Tavern dates back to the 1700s and is known as a 'cruciform house'. In 1924 a replica was built at Wembley for the Empire Exhibition.

Since the revision of the plans, however, there have been no further objections from the Bermuda National Trust.

The development will now be sited on Residential Two land with a 15-foot setback from the nature reserve.

The Department of Conservation Services did not register any objections to the final plan, but raised concern about potential flooding as the land is only three feet above sea level.

According to the Planning file, the Department of Conservation Services "wishes to note for the record that the proposed tourism units are located within a 'high risk' flooding area prone to inundation during storm events".

As the area is a Cave Protection Area, the Department also recommends "that as a condition of Planning approval, that should a cave system or feature be discovered during excavation works, that the Department of Planning and Conservation Services be immediately contacted for assessment".

A Woodland Management Plan of planting endemic plants has also been recommended.