Works and Engineering and Housing Minister Senator David Burch told the Senate on Wednesday that ?prevailing circumstances? rather than a case of NIMBY (not in my backyard) led him to quash plans to add 20 homes to the Mary Victoria Road area.

As previously reported on Tuesday, the Development Applications Board (DAB) refused Planning permission for the Mary Victoria Road homes but Sen. Burch said he was not going to appeal the decision to the Environment Minister.

?The primary concern was the combination of landowners and renters,? Sen. Burch said in the Senate.

?The mixture of families with diverging views had contributed to some of the challenges that the community faced and thus building additional rental units, at this time, would exacerbate the problem.?

Sen. Burch said the decision not to proceed rested with him alone and the DAB?s decision to ask for additional conditions from the Bermuda Housing Corporation (BHC) could have been met or challenged.

At a meeting with residents in April, he also discussed law and order concerns, which he said the residents appreciated.

?Mr. President, I must stress that this is not a case of the NIMBY syndrome winning the day but rather a rational decision taken in light of the prevailing circumstances,? Sen. Burch said.

He also thanked area MPs Glenn Blakeney and Finance Minister Paula Cox for ?their diligence in lobbying for a favourable outcome?.