A `stop work order' has been slapped on a Hamilton Parish listed building with ties to former Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson.

The property at 33 Cottage Hill is a Grade 2 listed building dating to the 18th century and Mr. Hodgson received Planning permission for modifications and extensions to the building in May 2001.

But two weeks ago, Planning ordered work stopped on the building after an inspection found work taking place deviated from the approved plans. Alterations to listed buildings are tightly controlled in order to preserve Bermuda's historic properties and when the list was established, Government paired with Bank of Butterfield to offer interest-free loans to homeowners to encourage restorations to preserve and enhance the historical value of the homes.

The historic cottage contains two, one-bedroom apartments and Mr. Hodgson received permission for small extensions to a bathroom and patio of one and closet and patio of the second as well as restoration work to the roof, chimneys, windows and other areas. The property was also selected for an interest-free loan of $107,580 to undertake the historically significant work, according to the Planning file. The loan was issued to Frederick Hodgson, a relative of the Government backbencher. Planning director Rudolph Hollis said the stop work order was placed on the property "for a series of minor things", all of which could be resolved through a retro-active Planning application.

When asked if the infraction affected the conditional loan, Mr. Hollis said he did not know if the unauthorised works fell outside the restrictions which accompanied the monies.

Mr. Hodgson told The Royal Gazette, however, that the Cottage Hill property was not his, although he has "some familiarity with it". Mr. Hodgson said he was aware of the stop work order and that it related to a minor matter. He said he believed a retro-active application was to be submitted to Planning this week and, to his knowledge, the unauthorised work had not affected the listed building loan.

Mr. Hodgson said the unauthorised work related to a cellar which did not appear on the plans.

"We have to put in an application to show the cellar," he said. "It was a former slave quarters."