MPs have approved planning permission, in principle, for the redevelopment of King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Government tabled a Special Planning Provision Bill in the House of Assembly Friday to get the go-ahead.

The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (Special Planning Provision) Act 2009 was passed by MPs after the project was described as "a national priority" by Health Minister Walter Roban.

The maximum height of the development is described as 215 ft in the Bill, something which drew concern from Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons.

Fearing it could set a precedent, he put forward an amendment to reduce the height maximum to 140 ft, but his Motion failed to pass.

Health Minister Walter Roban told MPs: "No one who visits our existing hospital can help but be aware of their space constraints. The provisions of this Act are essential to meet Bermuda's health care needs in the coming years."

Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) is teaming up with the private sector for the $315 million upgrade, to bring the hospital up to modern day standards in the 25-year project. Mr. Roban said work on the hospital should begin in just over a year.

The first phase of construction is estimated to last three years, with a 2014 opening.

The Bill states planning approval in principle will relate to: layout, situation and setback; site coverage; the height of buildings up to a maximum of 215 ft above mean sea level; design and external appearance of buildings; traffic access and parking; pedestrian access; and landscaping.

Permission is granted subject to certain conditions such as surveys, statements and reports.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson questioned the delayed start.

"We've had three reports and all these costs. Why couldn't you get it right the first time?" she asked Government.

"But we're there now, five years and millions of dollars later."

She said she supported the latest plans, as "sensible and realistic".

"We are happy that the Government is finally doing something about the hospital and let's hope they will give some thought to Continuing Care, the Hospice and also the nursing quarters," she said.

Government backbencher and former Premier Alex Scott said: "If we've satisfied the Opposition Member then we must have satisfied most of Bermuda. This has to be a red letter day."

Former Health Minister Michael Scott said: "The Act makes provision to allow Minister Mr. Roban to pan out in the House and to the public an important development, for health care and the infrastructure of this Country. He and his team are to be commended."

John Barritt, Opposition MP for Devonshire South Central the constituency in which the hospital is to be built said the development would exceed anything built in Bermuda before, in terms of its "enormity".

Mr. Barritt said: "This is going to be the mother of all projects. It will make the Dockyard project look like..., well if that's the Taj Mahal, it will be a village chapel in comparison; the sheer configuration and mass of construction that will go on."

Grant Gibbons, Shadow Education Minister, said he had attended a public meeting where neighbours had expressed concerns about "height, setbacks, traffic and security".

However he welcomed the open consultation process between BHB and the stakeholders.

Mr. Roban described the Bill as "a very important piece of legislation" and stressed it was only to set out the "conceptual area and the design for the hospital".

"Much of the components will come back and the House will have ample opportunity to discuss them. I will endeavour to be as open and transparent as I can."

Commenting on the height issues, he said: "The 215 ft is based on a maximum contingency for a nine-storey building. It is too early to jump to any conclusions as to final designs and what they will look like.

"This has just created the design parameters. We are not approving anything other than a conceptual area."

He added that a Special Development Order (SDO) would have been "more restrictive" in terms of allowing for public consultation.

Mr. Simons introduced a Motion to reduce the maximum height to 140 ft, but this was defeated on a vote of MPs.

"We can't allow this to set a precedent of having 20-storey buildings in our country. This will change our architectural character and this will be a precedent," he said.

However Mark Pettingill of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance said: "This still has to go through Planning. Government isn't going build a 20-storey skyscraper hospital, they are going to build something that meets the requirements of the population.

"With respect it still has a degree of checks and balances it will have to go through."

Premier Ewart Brown said: "The Minister has made it very clear. We are not even near a decision as to what the height of the building will be."