The Development Applications Board (DAB) expressed concern and asked Government to prosecute a St. David?s construction company for disobeying Planning regulations by starting to build without permission.

The DAB said the two men, Derek Wright and Calvin Richardson of Richardson and Wright Construction had broken the law by starting work at Lot Six, Tranquillity Lane, St. George?s without DAB?s consent.

?The Board wishes to express its concern that the applicant has demonstrated blatant disregard for the planning process and has commenced works without the express consent (of the Board),? the minutes of last week?s DAB meeting reveal. ?The Board requests that the Minister take appropriate measures.?

They were caught building a new ?two dwelling unit? in St. George?s. Mr. Richardson and Mr. Wright sought retroactive planning approval. This is a way to get planning approval after the work has been done. DAB chairman Robin Spencer-Arscott said yesterday: ?When someone does something without proper approval we take a dim view of it... All we ask people is to follow the rules.?

He said in this case Mr. Richardson and Mr. Wright ?went ahead and built? without approval. ?People think they can just get away with these things,? he said. ?It shows a lack of respect for the Board. We follow the Bermuda Plan. That is our bible.?

He said the DAB tries to ?preserve open space and the environment. It?s done for a reason. So this place does not become a concrete jungle?. He said the DAB had a ?good mix of people? in its members, particularly with DAB?s newest addition Amanda Outerbridge.

Ms Outerbridge was the former head of Bermuda?s environmental and architectural preservation group, the Bermuda National Trust for which she worked for a decade. When asked what penalties Mr. Wright and Mr. Richardson might face from the Minster, Mr. Spencer-Arscott said ?it varies in every instance?.

In the meeting minutes, the Board said they refused the application received November 15, 2004 because it failed to comply with the Bermuda Plan 1992 ?which only permits a maximum of two storeys?.

And secondly, they said ?the proposed massing and scale of the development along with the overall appearance and visual impact in the context of its surroundings will have an overall negative impact on the surrounding environment?.

Derek Wright is a well known local sportsman ? Captain of Flatts cricket club and said he has ?played for 20 years for Devonshire Colts and is now in St. George?s playing commercially?.

But Mr. Wright refused to comment saying: ?It would be inappropriate to comment at this time.?