Century cottage on Ireland Island.

Dr. Edward Harris fears he may be hampered from upgrading The Parsonage.

Over the last 11 years he said he has devoted time, energy, and money into restoring the building.

When he began work the once elegant home was an abandoned chicken coop.

Under the new Bermuda Plan -- a blueprint for the future development of the Island -- the Parsonage is zoned open space with a "green space conservation area''.

This imposes severe restrictions on developing the site, owned by the West End Development Corporation.

Dr. Harris, who is thought to be interested in buying the land, wants the zoning changed to "residential 1''.

This is the least restrictive zoning for residential properties.

On Friday, Dr. Harris, an archaeologist who is director of the Bermuda Maritime Museum, took his fight to the Bermuda Plan's Objections Tribunal at the Cabinet Office.

He has four main objections to the current zoning: The property has always been for residential use; Planning approval has already been given for three "units'' at the site; Upgrading should not be hindered; and The site should be "compatible'' with other nearby properties, which have "residential 1'' zoning.

Wedco, it is understood, has no complaint about the development restriction.

And the Planning Department too is opposed to any change.

It wants to protect a building deemed to have an important place in Bermuda's architectural history.

The West End Local Plan had also zoned the Parsonage open space.

The Objections Tribunal will make recommendations to Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons on whether the protests should be upheld.

Yesterday surveyor Mr. Ian Waddington, one of Dr. Harris's two agents, who appeared before the Objections Tribunal, criticised the Bermuda Plan's zoning.

He said the Parsonage should be brought into line with nearby properties.

"Right next door Wedco has residential 1 development zones,'' he said.

Mr. Waddington said "residential 1'' would give Dr. Harris far more flexibility in developing the site.

"He wants to have the freedom to build and create separate units, perhaps for rental purposes.'' Mr. Waddington did not believe Dr. Harris currently had anything specific in mind.

But he added: "I am sure he does not want to turn the site into a condominium development.'' The Parsonage was built in 1827, and was occupied by 40 parsons.