The Bermuda National Trust has commended the redeveloper of the Elbow Beach Hotel for undertaking “sufficient measures” to address archaeological concerns at the Paget property.

At the same time, the charity said its calls for an archaeological assessment as part of the planned major redevelopment of the Fairmont Southampton have been unsuccessful.

In its September newsletter, the BNT said The Loren group commissioned professional archaeological expertise, including a report on Elbow Bay Fort by Edward Harris and an Archaeological Management Plan to assess what was present and mitigate potential impacts.

Dr Harris is an archaeologist and author of the internationally recognised textbook, the Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy.

The report said it is vital that before development begins at archaeologically sensitive sites, appropriate assessments are undertaken to identify and preserve links to the island’s history.

“We were therefore pleased with the approach taken for The Loren’s proposed major development at Elbow Beach, where there was potential for historic fortifications and other archaeological features or deposits to survive,” the BNT said.

It said its Archaeology Research Committee reviewed the work and “was satisfied that sufficient measures had been taken to address archaeological concerns”.

As such, the charity did not submit an objection to the project on archaeological grounds.

It said: “The proactive work by The Loren provides a positive example of responsible archaeological management: investigate potential heritage impacts early, bring in appropriate expertise and allow evidence to inform what happens next.”

The BNT called for similar action to be undertaken elsewhere.

It said it “repeatedly called” for an archaeological assessment as part of the planned major redevelopment of the Fairmont Southampton where there “is also potential for significant archaeology”.

However, the BNT said its requests have not yet resulted in the investigation which it said was “warranted”.

A spokesman for Westend Properties said many of the concerns outlined by the BNT were assessed and addressed in the environmental impact statement prepared by Bermuda Environmental Consulting in July 2023.

“We are committed to environmental stewardship and preserving historic and cultural heritage on the site,” the firm said.

It said the special development order for the project outlines the creation of three protected conservation areas totalling 7.5 acres.

The company said it is committed to protecting and enhancing the property’s cultural, sustainable and environmental heritage including historical gun emplacements and improvements to the Railway Trail within the campus.

Its commitment also covers dedicated conservation areas, enhanced habitats for birds, and extensive planting of native and endemic trees and shrubs.

As part of its ongoing process to ensure protection of cultural and historical considerations, Westend Properties said it continues to engage with the Government of Bermuda’s cultural heritage officer.

“With the project still in the design phase, many details are still in the early stages and are evolving,” the firm said.

The BNT said archaeology is a finite and non-renewable resource.

The charity said: “Once a site is destroyed without investigation, the evidence it contains — and the opportunity to learn from it — is lost.

“Early assessment, by contrast, benefits everyone: potential concerns can be investigated, decisions can be based on evidence rather than speculation and development can proceed with greater confidence.”

It said it hoped “The Loren’s example” helps set a higher standard for major development in Bermuda and that proactive archaeological assessment increasingly becomes normal practice, wherever significant archaeology potential has been identified.

The Loren Hotels group has submitted an in-principle planning application to restore the historic Elbow Beach Hotel.

The hotel was in operation for 118 years before it closed its doors in early 2020.

The property was purchased by The Loren group last year with the intention of running both it and the company’s redeveloped Pink Beach hotel property in Smith’s as a single hotel with two locations.