Controversial plans to build eight semi-detached two storey homes on almost five acres of land in Devonshire have been given the go ahead.

The application, submitted by Rosebud Trust on January 27, was approved last week by the Development Applications Board.

William Cox said his family was developing the site on Jubilee Road for Bermuda.

"Ultimately, we looked at the site to build houses for Bermuda," he said. "Absolutely, it is for Bermudians."

"As a Bermuda family our intent is to develop responsibly with endemic plants and make sure it fits into the area," Mr. Cox said. "The site had the potential to be much more densely populated. We feel we are taking a responsible look at it."

However, Mr. Cox did not want to comment on whether the homes would sell for around $1.2 million, which neighbour Rolfe Commissiong had stated in February.

Another spokeswoman from the Cox family, who did not wish to be named, said the area used to be used for illegal motocross races, which could not happen now a "modest clearing" had been made.

She said a bunch of "lousy old trees" had been cleared, but these were not "good trees".

"They just wanted to see what was there and they cleared it,"she said.

In October, Mr. Commissiong made a statement on behalf of residents who were opposed to the plans. And in February he said that no one would have dared build houses in such a rural area ten years ago.

Mr. Commissiong lives on Brackish Pond Lane, in the area where the development will take place.

Yesterday, Mr. Commissiong said around 20 to 25 homeowners and residents had sent in objections to the Planning Department.

But he refused to comment further and said he would first have to speak to his neighbours to see if the Planning Department had responded to their objections.

Trees have already been cleared out of the once thickly wooded area in preparation for work to begin on the two-storey houses.

In October, Director of Planning Rudolph Hollis said the area was cleared to allow his department to conduct a topographical survey.

The Rosebud Trust is represented by Conyers and Associates, who could not be reached by Press time last night.

The DAB said eight building permits will have to be granted before building can start.

In the event that a new cave is discovered during construction work, the DAB ordered that all work should cease and an engineering report be provided to the Department of Planning to show the cave system is to be protected.

Of the eight separate lots which will be cleared to make way for homes, only lot 16 has a small parcel of conservation zoning.

In order to protect the conservation zone, a four-foot high fence must be built around it before construction begins, it said.

To protect the visual amenity of Jubilee Road, it said there should be no dumping of rubble on site and all excess construction material must be removed during the course of construction.