Fears that Bermuda's prime business district is "too congested'' have been sparked by Conyers, Dill & Pearman's proposed new seven-storey law offices.

But despite that objection from a nearby business, the Planning Department has granted the law firm in-principle approval for the building on the Par-la-Ville Road site where World Distributors cycle shop is now located.

And earlier this month the law firm bought the 16,400 square foot piece of land, which crosses right through to Trott Road, from current owners Young, Trott & Co. Ltd. for an undisclosed amount.

CD&P general manager John Buckley confirmed the purchase for the proposed building which will have total floor space of 89,600 square feet.

He said the firm's "long range planning'' had uncovered the need for much greater office space but insisted there was no definite timetable for the move from nearby Clarendon House.

Plans from CD&P's architects Conyers & Associates lodged with the Planning Department show it is proposed that the building will include six floors of offices and a basement car park with room for eight cars and 14 cycles.

Members of the nearby Old Colony Club formally filed an objection to the development before approval was granted and have since vowed to continue fighting the massive development. "We note with dismay that the proposed seven storey building will occupy the complete lot. ..and consequently impact on an already too congested area,'' their objection stated.

Club secretary Michael Koren said last night that the area was already extremely crowded so any further development would "not only impact on the environment but also on nearby properties''.

He said he believed the new construction would add to erosion problems as well as blocking up access roads with heavy equipment for months on end. OCC members are due to discuss the congestion at their monthly meeting tonight, he said.

"We are holding a watching brief for things we can do. But for them to get full approval is way down the road. In-principle approval is quite a different matter,'' he said.

But in a formal response to the objection architect Harold Conyers denied the whole site would be completely covered with the corporate offices.

Key business area `too congested' He said: "The proposal's massing, scale and volume are consistent with recent developments of its kind in this area. We are unclear as to what impact and congestion the objection refers to.

"It is our client's intent to be good neighbours and a positive and cooperative force in this area before, during and after construciton.'' World Distributors' managing director Bridan Matcham said the search for new premises for his business had already begun.

He said the talks between CD&P and Young, Trott and Co. began six months ago for the sale of the site -- where World Distributors had been situated for 25 years. "At this point we're looking for the right location, still in Hamilton, but we've found it's extremely difficult to find somewhere suitable.

"We will be here for a few more months. It just depends how fast they decide to move on this. But we've been planning for the last six months or so since they were in the early stages of negotiation, so we are prepared.'' BUSINESS BUC