The Bermuda National Trust last night called for more public consultation before Planning permission is granted for high-rise buildings.

The conservation organisation echoed comments by retiring Anglican Bishop Ewen Ratteray in this newspaper yesterday, in which he criticised the granting of Special Development Orders to override the City of Hamilton Plan.

The Rt. Rev. Ewen Ratteray described SDOs for multi-storey developments as: "That kind of approach is extremely dangerous as the character of Hamilton is now all but lost."

He blasted SDOs as "unfortunate and hardly democratic" and urged vigilance in the Planning process against encroachment by multi-storey buildings on the city's traditional character.

Bishop Ratteray spoke out following the announcement of an SDO for a ten-storey 'condominium hotel' within yards of the House of Assembly and Cabinet Office.

The 81-unit development is to be built on the corner of Court Street and Reid Street and will include 39 underground car parking spaces.

The SDO for Stonehaven Development Condominium Hotel was granted by Environment Minister El James on March 25, and marks the twelfth SDO in five years.

Although business consultants ARP say the development will cater primarily for business executives, Government has justified the need for the SDO in terms of tourism.

A Government spokesman said on Friday: "The number of storeys proposed was greater than the Development Applications Board would have been able to approve.

Consultation with the Corporation of Hamilton indicated that the Corporation had no objection.

Given this, the application could have been considered by the Board and refused. The applicant would have then been able to appeal the Board's decision to the Minister.

"However, as the development is important to the improvement of Bermuda's tourism product, it was determined that allowing the development via an SDO was in the interest in the country as a whole."

The City of Hamilton Plan 2001 states any new developments must be lower in height than the Cathedral within a 'view corridor' of the landmark, in order to retain its "visual dominance".

The Plan also aims to "protect and enhance buildings of special architectural or historical interest and Historic Areas from unsympathetic development".

Although the Stonehaven Development Condominium Hotel does not sit within a 'view corridor' of the Cathedral, its location is within sight of the House of Assembly and Cabinet Office.

Last night, the Bermuda National Trust — which objected to the original Planning application on the grounds of "height and scale" — called for "a conscious effort to preserve areas representative of Bermuda's character and image".

Director of Preservation Dorcas Roberts told The Royal Gazette: "Decisions to permit 'high-rise' buildings in Hamilton — a marked departure from long-standing policy, we feel should only be contemplated after a careful assessment by the Department of Planning and a comprehensive consultation with affected stakeholders and the public.

"While it is recognised that there is a growing desire to 'build up' within the City of Hamilton, we do not believe that development should take place in the absence of appropriate Planning controls and procedures."

She said: "The Bermuda National Trust is not blindly opposed to going higher within the city and fully understands the potential benefits this could have.

"For instance, increased residential development could help to regenerate the city, and minimise traffic congestion by allowing city residents to walk to work.

"And allowing greater density within Hamilton would likely reduce development pressure on sensitive areas around the Island.

"On the other hand, we are also aware of the negative impacts such development could have on sensitive areas of the city and on the qualities that make Hamilton Bermudian.

"If, following assessment and consultation, it is decided that the city can support 'high-rise' buildings, it is essential that the Department of Planning identify areas where these buildings would be permissible, and the heights that should be allowed.

"More importantly, areas where such buildings would not be suitable must be identified. It requires a conscious effort to preserve areas representative of Bermuda's character and image, especially if those areas are adjacent to 'high-rise' development.

"One means of doing so would be to finalise the listing of architecturally significant buildings within the city, whereas yet only the Anglican Cathedral benefits from such protection."

Yesterday, readers of this newspaper expressed their views via e-mail. Jenna Cleckley, bookkeeper at Lee Middle School, said: "Accountability and consistency are not being exercised. The hotels are not that full that there is a need for this.

"I see the Bermudian charm and uniqueness fading and fading. Over-development building here, there, everywhere. Less and less trees and greenery."

US tourist Juanita Sharper, a visitor to the Island since 1972, said: "I am in agreeance with retiring Anglican Bishop Ratteray's comments regarding high-rise buildings in the City of Hamilton, and do believe that tall buildings would detract from the city's character.

"To allow this would definitely further strip Bermuda of its heritage and uniqueness that visitors such as myself have come to know and cherish on this very beautiful Island.

"The residents of this fine Island, who provide service to those of us tourists and have to live here when we return to our homes, deserve the right to know that they are at least a 'thought' in the planning stages of ventures like this.

"Is it worth risking possibly lower morale of your residents for a corporate visitor's temporary stay?"