A large part of Southlands could be developed for homes — despite Premier Ewart Brown saying it was intended to become a public park.

Bermuda Environmental and Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) and the National Trust have lodged objections after a significant area in the north of Southlands was labelled "Residential One" in the Draft Bermuda Plan 2008 — potentially permitting the highest density housing allowed in Bermuda. The National Trust also says it has received no confirmation regarding the proposed land swap agreement which is supposed to see the five-star Jumeirah hotel switched from the Warwick South Shore estate to Morgan's Point.

Announcing the exchange in April, Dr. Brown described Southlands as a "gorgeous piece of property and beach" which acts as an environmental buffer to development surrounding it. Dr. Brown said it would "most likely" become a national park.

At the time, environment groups cheered the move to protect the Southlands woodland and lead to a transformation of the neglected brownfield former US baseland. In a third party objection to the draft plan, the National Trust said the introduction of the residential zone is "contrary to the purported intent of the land swap agreement".

"The Bermuda National Trust understood that the exchange was so that the 37-acre Southlands Estate would be preserved in a relatively undeveloped state and made accessible to the general public," wrote the Trust. The Bermuda National Trust had hoped to have received confirmation that the 37-acre Southlands Estate was to be turned into a public park for everyone in Bermuda to use and enjoy and are saddened that this has not yet occurred.

"Also, no confirmation has been received that the land swap agreement has been executed."

BEST's submission states: "This land exchange has undoubtedly served to save the Southlands property from a severely environmentally damaging and hugely unpopular development."

But complaining about the lack of protection from unsuitable proposals, it continues: "The Government has clearly indicated an intention for the Southlands property to become a national park.

"The Premier, Dr. Ewart Brown, has been quoted as saying Southlands will never again be anonymous, particularly now as we reveal a plan that will shift that gorgeous piece of property and beach from private hands into the hands of every Bermudian.

"Now that the Southlands property is under public ownership, we respectfully submit that it is rezoned as National Park and Open Space Reserve to reflect the stated intentions of the Government and the express will of the Bermudian public."

The Department of Planning must now consider the objections and if the issue cannot be resolved a tribunal process is likely. In the land swap, which followed a 3,400-name "Save South Shore" petition by BEST, developer Southlands Ltd. gets 80 acres of publicly owned land at Morgan's Point and Government picks up 37 acres of open space at Southlands.

BEST chairman Stuart Hayward told The Royal Gazette last night: "Our disappointment is on having to remain so vigilant to prevent environmental desecration.

"The public fought hard to preserve this beautiful piece of property from being built over with glass and concrete. The Government has verified its worth by giving up more than twice as much land at Morgan's Point in exchange for this choice lot.

"It is distressing that we now have to chide and goad the Government to honour the value they placed on this plot of land and protect it from development now and in the future. We all worked hard to rescue Southlands from developers.

"The least the Government could do would be to cover the entire acreage with protective zoning to preserve it and parkland and nature reserve for current and future generations."

The Environment Ministry offered no response yesterday, while Dr. Brown's Press Secretary Glenn Jones could not be reached.