Opposition Housing spokesman Sen. Kim Swan has called for Government to revise housing plans for Perimeter Lane.

Plans to build 38 units for rent had been resisted by locals who said it was too many and there were other areas where homes could be built.

Residents are now awaiting the results of a recent meeting with Housing Minister Sen. David Burch to see if Government was prepared to compromise.

Last night Sen. .Swan said Government is proposing to build an excessive number of units for rent on a concentrated area of land.

He said: "Government owns sufficient property in many other areas in Bermuda more suitable to accommodate a cluster development of 38 units."

Homeowners and residents of Perimeter Lane were not against the construction of additional houses, said Sen. Swan, but are concerned about the need for an appropriate to the scale of the already congested area.

Residents had been promised that the former Pembroke Dump would be turned into a park years ago but recently Sen. Burch said that project was a decade away from completion. Now the area is threatened with more building, said Sen. Swan.

"It was recommended that Government consider building units on the property it owns on Perimeter Lane, without demolishing its existing houses which already provides affordable homes for Bermudians.

"The low land area at Perimeter Lane is also an important water table. When you consider that the Perimeter Lane community are in a valley of lowlands, the threat of potential flooding already exists."

Other concerns Sen. Swan highlighted included:

The need to build on pilings because of a weakened foundation, caused by building on marshland.

The safety impact on the adjacent highway (Palmetto Road) because of the excavation of the hillside in an effort to build 38 units and the significant additional cost to ensure safety by building a retaining wall.

The impact of the mulching taking place at the neighbouring dump.