The site of a former pump house on the coastline of Shark Hole Hill could be redeveloped to create a hotel cottage for Tucker’s Point.

A recent planning application proposes the erection of a 561 sq ft single storey hotel guest cottage with a lay-by for car and cycle parking, along with refurbishment of a small dock at the site.

The pump house had been used to provide seawater for the Castle Harbour Hotel.

Meanwhile a conservation management plan, submitted by RWTP Hotels Ltd, proposes work along the nearby coastline to remove invasive plants and planting additional native and endemic species.

“The area presents a derelict image with squatters living in the old pump house,” the CMP said.

“It is envisioned that this zone forms the primary focus of compensatory conservation work to offset any environmental impacts of development as the great majority of this work must be done prior to effective use and should be achievable prior to issuance of an occupancy certificate.”

While the Hamilton Parish land is part of the Tucker’s Point property, the CMP notes that it was not one of the lots for which development rights were given away through the Tucker’s Point Special Development Order.

The CMP said invasive species represent the overwhelming majority of plant life in the area, drowning out native buttonwood trees.

“Behind these coastal buttonwoods in most areas are a suite of invasive competitors. Therese trees impinge upon and compromise the shoreward expansion of the buttonwoods.

“The invasive plans on site are critically important ecological features, but from a negative perspective. These plans are commonly more aggressively competitive than native Bermuda species and will often compromise or overwhelm the more desirable native species.

“Also with aggressive growth rates, they present greater horticultural management demands. The tall, invasive casuarinas are shallow rooted and susceptible to being blown down, causing damage to other vegetation and promoting coastal erosion.”

The plan also noted a small stand of native white stopper near the roadside, a large endemic olivewood and a patch of snowberry, which would have the potential for further expansion if invasive plants were carefully removed.

The CMP proposed a phased approach to the implementation of the plan, dividing the property into four separate zones, with the development site located in zone 3.