The Minister of the Environment has explained why he overruled Planning officials in approving a ten-storey housing block for Southlands Ltd.

Glenn Blakeney gave the development in Hunt's Quarry, Warwick, the go-ahead despite rejection of the planning appeal by an inspector.

The housing development was originally intended to house up to 375 workers for the new Southlands resort and other hotel staff. But it was turned down by the Development Applications Board (DAB) due to "insufficient information" on the mixed-use facility.

Planning officials said the inclusion of warehousing and light industry on the same site was 'incompatible", and that the density of staff housing was excessive.

Southlands Ltd. however, appealed the decision, despite the change in plans for the hotel with the relocation of the resort to Morgan's Point, Sandys.

In August, Planning Inspector Brian Field, in dismissing the appeal, said: "This site is no longer part of the Southlands proposal and the Ministry has advised that an SDO will not be issued for the site."

He continued: "The proposal is for a density and scale of development that is unprecedented, with a level of residential units three times the maximum normally permitted, along with a building height at ten storeys that is not permitted, even within the City of Hamilton. In summary, technical officers find the building design unacceptable."

In conclusion, Mr. Field said although staff housing for the hospitality sector was "a good option" for such a brownfield site, he had concerns about the height of the building.

He added: "I am not persuaded by the scale, massing and density of the development proposed which, in the local context, is undoubtedly excessive."

Mr. Blakeney however, said he granted the appeal against the inspector's recommendations in the spirit of sustainable development.

"I have carefully considered the development on the brownfield site and upheld the appeal, recognising not only the sensitivity to the environment but indeed the balance that must always take precedence.

"Sustainable development does not mean no development. And under this particular circumstance the proposed development, in my view, and supported in part by findings of various experts, is not contrary to the greater good that will be manifested by this unique and innovative proposed development."

The Minister outlined several conditions for granting in-principle planning approval for the 250-unit accommodation block and retail warehousing space. These include details of the water supply, site drainage and waste disposal to be included in the final application, and that no other industrial uses are to be permitted on site.

This week however, the Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) said Mr. Blakeney's overturning of Planning officials' decisions had set a "disturbing" precedent.

"This precedent being set, whereby an incomplete application is given approval by the Minister on appeal, is highly disturbing.

"Applicants will now be able to submit the barest outline, bypass proper assessment by the DAB, then get approval via an appeal to the Minister thereby completely subverting the policies and procedures set up by Parliament on behalf of the Bermuda public to ensure orderly development."

BEST added: "We must question whether a Cabinet Minister has gone beyond exercising a discretion, as the law permits, to usurping Parliament's role for the making and/or changing of Bermuda's laws."

Representatives of Southlands Ltd. Craig Christensen, Nelson Hunt and Brian Duperreault were all off-Island yesterday in different locations and unavailable for comment on the development.