Concern that lengthening delays in the planning process and issuing of building permits are now impacting the Island?s construction sector needs to be addressed urgently with an overhaul of bureaucratic procedures, according to Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons.

As reported by last week Alex DeCouto, president of the Construction Association of Bermuda and Julia van Beelen, president of the Institute of Bermuda Architects, are both aware of the difficulties being experienced by their members as a result of the slowness of planning applications and building permits being approved. Staff shortages within the Planning Department have been cited as part of the problem. There also appears no incentive to increase the efficiency of the system, said Mr. DeCouto, who contrasted Bermuda with other countries such as the UK where a delay of more than eight weeks in a planning application resulted in automatic approval. He warned it was only a matter of time before construction firms were forced to lay off workers because large projects are being held up by bureaucratic delays.

It has been a week since the asked the Department of Environment for a response to the concerns. We are still awaiting a reply.

However, Opposition UBP MP Mr. Simons said: ?The real losers in the ongoing planning debacle are now beginning to surface, the people of Bermuda. Our economy and our people are now bearing the brunt of Bermuda?s draconian planning policies and processes.

?Bermudian families are being held to ransom, because a large number of the bread winners who work in the construction industry are being laid off. Many of our development projects run the risk of collapsing if the planning delays overtake the changing market conditions.

?In addition, the cost of development continues to escalate because some employees are held on while the developers await planning clearance and building permits, which can take up to a year. If we are to be competitive and want to operate as a first world country our planning policies and laws must operate at first world standards.?

Mr. Simons said Bermuda deserved a ?well oiled planning department? able to address residential and commercial development with ?efficiency and nimbleness?. He warned the economy can ill afford the knock-on effects from poorly managed planning policies and an under-resourced planning department.

?This Government cannot and must not continue to hold this country to ransom because of its inefficiencies and poor management,? Mr. Simons said. ?The Premier must step in and manage this before our planning process becomes a national crisis.

?The President of the Construction Association of Bermuda should be commended for highlighting the challenges facing the industry, for telling us about the possible lay-offs, for telling us about the possible dip in the construction industry, for telling us about the fragile nature of the industry and how the projects can be cancelled because of spiralling inflation because delayed planning approval is overtaken by market conditions,? said Mr. Simons.

The Shadow Environment Minister also suggests Mr. DeCouto arranges a meeting with the Premier to demonstrate the ongoing planning and development problems and potential cost to the economy.

?It is shameful that our colleagues who work in the construction industry face possible lay-off because the Government refuses to commit the appropriate resources that will allow Bermuda to have a well managed planning department,? said Mr. Simons.

?This department should be adequately staffed to ensure that Bermuda has a truly responsive planning process which can handle today?s residential, commercial and tourism development needs.?