A report appearing in Tuesday's Royal Gazette stating that objections to a development in Fairylands had been "overruled" was incorrect, claims objector Douglas Patterson.

Paul Lowry, of Woodbourne Associates, told The Royal Gazette on Monday that gaining planning permission for the HoneyCo development company to build a new apartment complex at 8 Fairyland Road had been difficult due to objections made by neighbours.

However the Planning Department had recently granted planning permission in principle for the plans.

However Mr. Patterson, a neighbour, claimed those objections have not yet been dealt with.

The Royal Gazette understands plans submitted for the development last year were rejected as they did not fit in with planning regulations. Mr. Patterson said as an objector he was given the opportunity to review the new plans, submitted in December, in early January.

Those plans, he said, called for a structure to be built right on a boundary between properties. However, he said, according to planning regulations a structure may not be constructed within 15 feet of such a boundary.

"Before any further decision is made (about whether to approve the planning application or not) they would come and talk to me," he said - yet he has not been informed of any changes made to the application.

However, said Planning Director Rudolph Hollis, the Planning Department must take a position in support or against a planning application. In light of the fact that approval in principle was granted, and without first-hand knowledge of this particular application, he said: "I have to assume the objections were considered and either they did not have merit or were resolved."

For approval in principle to be granted, said Mr. Hollis, an application has to conform with planning regulations on factors such as density, siting, the size and number of units involved.

Mr. Hollis agreed Mr. Patterson's objection about a structure being built within 15 feet of a boundary fell under siting, and therefore had to be considered when granting approval in principle.

However, he said: "I have to assume the building was moved outside the boundary if approval was given."

"I am not opposed to the development of the property," said Mr. Patterson. "It will be better." Also, he said, he believed people should be able to do what they wanted with their own property "within planning guidelines".

Currently the one and a half acre property is what Mr. Lowry described as: "heavy industrial use in a residential land zone".

HoneyCo, however, aims to develop the property into an apartment complex, complete with buildings in a crescent-shape, grassy areas, and a pool.

Construction is expected to begin on the site in about six months, once final building applications have been approved.