Two proposals for empty buildings in Southlands have failed to win the support of the National Parks Commission.

The first suggested converting Prima Vera Cottage, a vacant residence near the northeastern corner of the Warwick park, into a meeting and events centre to be used by Mirrors or other government bodies.

While a planning application said the proposal was in line with planned improvements to the park and making use of derelict buildings on the property, the NPC voted to recommend the building be demolished altogether rather than converted.

In a letter, dated January 21, the NPC noted that the building was not listed and was close to a densely populated residential neighbourhood. It added that there was a “potential for unwanted behaviour” in the space.

Nine commission members voted in favour of demolishing the building, with two voting in favour of renovating the building for residential use.

The letter, written by a technical officer to the NPC, said: “They would not recommend their approval for the proposed use as laid out in the application, for office space, to the Minister of Public Works and Environment.

“The commission recommended that the money proposed for use in renovating this building be put into the listed main house within Southlands Park.

“The Department of Parks is not in favour of this building being utilised for residential use and supports the recommendation of demolition by the National Parks Commission.”

The NPC also voted against supporting a proposal to convert a disused garage and storage area in the park into public restrooms.

In a separate letter dated January 21, the technical officer to the NPC wrote that while the commission agreed a public restroom was necessary for the park, its feedback was that the “fragmented proposals” for the property were not suitable.

It noted that in addition to the restroom plans under consideration, public restrooms were proposed for a café project on the southern side of the Southlands property, for a proposed zip line attraction and potentially the main historic building when it is renovated.

The letter added: “They recognise that some of those proposals are still in the review phase or may have not even made it to the planning phase yet, but there is need for a review of the overall plan for Southlands Park.”

The NPC earlier voted against plans to create a zip line attraction at the park, which was subsequently refused planning permission by the Development Applications Board.

The developer behind the project, EDI Bermuda Ltd, has appealed against the decision, while environmental groups including BEST, the Bermuda Audubon Society and the Bermuda National Trust have called for the appeal to be refused.

The NPC voted in support of plans to create a seawall on the eastern side of the property to help protect coastline in the area from erosion.

In a letter dated July 2025, the commission asked that the seawall design include a row of boulders to help curve the direct impact of waves against the wall.

That letter said: “It was noted that there is evidence that large boulders can curb the impact on the beach wall in other Caribbean islands, increasing the life span of the wall.

“They asked that the wall be designed in such a way that it is not as apparent that it is a concrete wall.

“They would like for designs to be considered that better blend the wall with the surrounding cliff side.”

That plan was recommended for approval by the Department of Planning and subsequently approved by the DAB during its meeting on December 10 last year.