Plans to build a hotel cottage at the site of a former pump house on the coast of Harrington Sound have been recommended for approval despite objections.

A report by a planning officer said the project would not have a negative environmental impact.

“With respect to the points raised by objectors, coastal reserve does permit the proposed development as is evidenced by the captioned assessment and planning policies,” the officer wrote.

“The department believes the active use of this brownfield site will result in an environment gain once the conservation management plan is carried out versus the current site circumstances, where invasive species dominate the lot and will eventually eradicate any native and endemics.

“Contrary to the opinion of some of the objectors, the department agrees this would make a unique hotel key location, with little to no impact to any natural feature of biological, ecological or geological importance.”

The technical officer also downplayed the likelihood that the site could have archaeological value as a site of past ship building activity.

“The heritage officer confirmed that, since the start of the 19th century, there is no record of any shipbuilding activity in this specific area,” the officer said.

“The ‘pump building’ shown in the drawings is built of block and most likely required some form of foundation to be dug and built on and any evidence of ship building would have been unearthed at the time of the existing building’s construction.

“Any further development in this area is unlikely to have a significant detrimental impact in regard to Bermuda heritage.”

RWTP Hotels submitted the planning application to build a hotel cottage at the site of a former pump house at the base of Shark Hole Hill in Hamilton Parish earlier this year.

The developer also sought approval for a conservation management plan to remove invasive species and support native plants in the surrounding coastline.

However, the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Audubon Society all filed objections to prevent development on the coastal site.

In addition to environmental and heritage concerns, the groups voiced fears that the location of the site on a major public road would create a threat to motorists.

However, the planning officer said: “Since the cottage will be utilised as a hotel key, vehicular traffic will be limited, with the proposed lay-by demonstrating it can achieve minimum sight lines and permits for on-site turnaround, a necessity on the busy road.”