Planning officers have refused an apartment complex and retail store because the proposed development was higher than two storeys.

Situated in Serpentine Road, opposite Midsea Lane, the development would have comprised of five residential units. The Development Applications Board refused the application because it did “not meet the provisions for new commercial development in a Residential 1 Development Zone as contained in the Bermuda Plan 1992 Planning Statement”.

The board report said: “The building exceeds two storeys in height and is sited ten feet from the lot line for the first three levels. The proposed mixed use development is not considered appropriate for this site in that the proposal is considered by the Board to be excessive in terms of use, height and scale.”

The building would have reached three storeys and extended 10 ft from the lot line, contrary to the Bermuda Plan which stipulates a maximum height of two storeys in this zone and a minimum setback of 15 ft.

The developers, Paragon Trust, previously submitted an application for seven residential units but were forced to scale it down.

A Planning Department report says: “The applicant was advised that the Department could not support this application for the reason that it constituted over-development of the site. The applicant revised the application to five dwelling units and a commercial retail site. But the submission still exceeded the maximum permitted.”