Questions were asked last night about the Government-backed scheme to build more than 50 apartments in St. David?s for Bermudian first-time homeowners.

Shadow Housing Minister Kim Swan said he was pleased to hear the announcement outlining the project for 54 affordable condo-style homes.

But he asked why the sale of public land to a private developer had not been approved by the House of Assembly or Senate before the plans were unveiled.

Housing Minister David Burch last week announced the blueprint for a small neighbourhood of homes to be built next to the New Testament Church of God, Southside.

He said that a two-acre plot had been sold by the Bermuda Land Development Company for $3.8 million in a deal with Trinity Construction Limited.

Homes would cost $450,000 and $525,000, Senator Burch added, in a project that represented ?genuine economic empowerment? for young professionals struggling to secure a foothold on the property ladder.

But Senator Swan said last night: ?The sale of public lands by the Government to Trinity Construction was not approved by the House of Assembly or Senate which recently closed last week.

?How can the Minister approve and announce the lease of public lands for 120 years without Parliamentary approval??

In response, Sen. Burch said: ?It is gratifying to know that Sen. Swan and the United Bermuda Party are ?pleased? that Trinity Construction is seeking to build affordable homes for those in need.?

Referring to the query about the approval of the sale of public land, he added: ?I can confirm that a submission to Parliament is ready to go and will be tabled on November 3.?

Sen. Swan also said he hoped that Government had looked at the social impact the project would have on what he said was the already heavily developed St. David?s/Southside area.

And he said it was important for the Housing Minister to reveal if the Government would manage the sale of the new homes through the Bermuda Housing Corporation, and if Government would keep a ?watching brief? on the development of the project, to ensure it was returned on budget.

?Although the Government is offering the contractor duty relief concessions, the efficient and timely building of this project will ensure that the promised project price is realised for the prospective purchasers,? added Sen. Swan.

Sen. Burch has said that, delays permitting, families could be moving into the condos by early 2008.