permission for his tree house deferred pending a site visit, it emerged yesterday.

Mr. Trout imported a tree house specialist called Jim Gravely from the jungles of Nicaragua -- where he was building an obstacle course 50 feet above ground -- to build the tree house, located at Dunbarton on Richmond Road, Pembroke.

Mr. Gravely and two other climbing buddies scaled a 75 foot silk cotton tree last year, and constructed a tree house in its branches.

It is made of pressure treated pine and redwood, held together with stainless steel bolts and cables for the bridge between its two sections.

Some neighbours complained that Mr. Trout had not received the necessary planning permission for his lofty retreat.

Last month he submitted an application for retroactive planning permission. As part of the application he also submitted an arboricultural report on the state of the 120-year-old silk cotton tree.

Mr. Trout is one of Bermuda's most secretive residents. A spokesman has said that it is his policy never to speak to the Press. Mr. Trout is a commodity futures trader who is the brains behind Trout Trading Management.

If the Development Applications Board denies Mr. Trout's retroactive application for Planning permission he might eventually have to tear down his tree house.

In other DAB news, Lines Overseas Management had its application for a an office building on the corner of Reid and Burnaby Streets approved.

ENVIRONMENT ENV