When it comes to revitalising derelict buildings, the Government has to lead the way, the assistant director of planning has said.

Speaking at the inaugural Bermuda Infrastructure and Development Summit, Paul McDonald said: “With only 21 square miles of land in Bermuda, focusing on previously developed sites is very, very important.”

He is involved in a survey of derelict buildings on the island, some of which belong to the Government.

“Government has to lead the way and be a good example for everyone else to follow,” he said.

He found it hard to see some buildings falling into ruin in a seemingly short amount of time.

“They have been allowed to degenerate to a stage where you might as well demolish them now because they are not worth retaining,” he said. “We do need to look at ways in which we can protect these buildings.”

Architect and head of OBMI’s Urban Lifestyle studio, Colin Campbell, said Bermuda is at an “interesting” point where it has both an increasing need for accommodation and a declining population, in certain sectors.

“There is an increasing need for good quality housing in areas where the quality of housing is not very good at all,” Mr Campbell said.

Cynthia Millett, counsel in Conyers’ Bermuda property practice, said: “Some Bermudians want a property their family can stay in for ever, even if they do not have the means to develop it.”

She said when people do want to revamp old buildings on family property, they sometimes lack clear title.

“They have been living there, but have nothing to document that they own it,” she said.

That is where she steps in to help.

Another issue she saw was that it is often difficult for older landowners to finance a property makeover.

“The banks usually do not lend to people past 65,” she said. “Often, they try to add children onto the property as guarantors so they can borrow the additional funds. A lot of children don’t like that responsibility and have to seek independent legal advice.”

Mr McDonald, said sometimes people can be nervous about buying or upgrading a listed building, because there are rules in place about what can be done. He insisted there are actually many things that can be done with a listed building.

“It does depend on the actual building itself, the character, and the grading,” he said. “You do not necessarily have to replace every window with expensive timber-framed windows. They should be seen as an asset, rather than something which is a hindrance.”

Karen Border, executive director of the Bermuda National Trust, admitted a few of the many derelict buildings in Bermuda could be knocked down.

In addition, there are 791 listed buildings in Bermuda for which more protections are offered.

Ms Border said: “We do have a listed building register, and some of these properties that are falling into ruin, are worth protecting for their cultural heritage value.”.

During the panel discussion held at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, architect Jonathan Castro, of E Se Studios, said it is sometimes easier to demolish a derelict building than to rebuild it.

“You have to decide if there is any life left in the building,” he said. “Certainly, there are many empty buildings around the island, some under government possession, some under personal possession.”

He said there is sometimes the perception that a derelict building has value, when in reality, it is just brick and mortar held together by “twine”.

“Less gatekeeping would make it easier from a financial and policy point of view,” he said.

The summit, with a theme of “Breaking Ground: Shaping Bermuda’s Built Future”, was organised by the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, in collaboration with the Urban Development Authority.

UPDATE: this article has been changed to make it clear that Karen Border did not advocate for the demolishing of any listed buildings