One of the Island’s oldest homes looks set to be demolished and replaced by a six-storey apartment block.

The Queen of the East, on East Broadway, had been given a temporary reprieve when planners rejected proposals to level the old structure in February.

But developers, CTX Ltd, appealed the decision to Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy.

And Mr Fahy has now gone along with the opinion of an independent planning inspector and given the project the go-ahead.

The move has been met with dismay by the Bermuda National Trust.

“The Bermuda National Trust is dismayed that the go ahead was given to demolish the Queen of the East on Appeal to the Minister of Home Affairs,” Jennifer Gray, the trust’s executive director, said.

“Since being listed for sale for $1.95 million in May 2011, as a potential site for a four or five-storey office/residential building, the Bermuda National Trust has continued to tirelessly look for ways to save the present building on the property, the Queen of the East, and champion its conservation.

“The Trust fully appreciates that for countless commuters on their way in and out of Hamilton each day the Queen of the East appears to be an unsightly derelict building, but we can promise that on closer inspection the structure reveals that it was once a Bermuda showplace, dating from the mid 1700s, and despite its condition today, remains one of the island’s most architecturally significant historic buildings.”

The developers plan to demolish the existing structure of the Queen of the East, which was built in the 1740s, and replace it with a new six storey residential block.

There is also provision for a gym and parking for five bikes and 12 cars on the property too.

The proposal was rejected by the Development Applications Board in February due to design concerns.

However Mr Fahy’s decision to allow the developer’s appeal paves the way for the destruction of the old property, which was built when St George’s was the only town in Bermuda.

In allowing the appeal and granting planning permission Mr Fahy followed the advice of an independent planning inspector who was brought in to consider the planning application appeal.

In his report the planning inspector said: “I find that there are valid reasons to conclude that the proposed building warrants approval under the Bermuda Plan 2008 Planning Statement policies respecting density and height.”

The Home Affairs Minister has also imposed a series of conditions on the project including a requirement of a Construction Methodology Plan to prevent work from affecting the flow of traffic along Crow Lane.

A number of further restrictions have also been imposed on the developers in the interests of ‘visual amenity’ and work has to begin within two years.

Ms Gray added: “Sadly, over the last two decades the Queen of the East was left unoccupied and derelict, causing it to deteriorate.

“We were shocked in 2007 when the Grade I listed status of the building was removed, leaving it without any protection from demolition, especially since just a decade earlier it was recognised as being of such exceptional interest and architectural and historical value that it should be preserved.

“Despite the current difficult economic times, the Trust does not accept that this remarkable building is without a viable future on the edge of Hamilton and believes it would be a tragedy for it to be demolished.

“We have explored the feasibility of finding external assistance through partnering with other organisations to determine if we could raise the necessary funds to save the building for the benefit of all Bermuda.

“In that vein, we approached the seller of the property, but so far have been unsuccessful.

“The Trust would like to appeal to any potential purchasers of the property to please consider saving the building, we guarantee that it would serve as a true asset.

“The Bermuda National Trust believes the Queen of the East can be saved and cannot stress enough how important this building is to Bermuda. It is extremely sad to see it in its current state as the building demonstrates the grace and sympathy of old Bermuda architecture at its best.”

In its day the Queen of the East was a large merchant house and a major feature of this 18th century port.

Over the decades the property has served as a bakery, a laundry and even a brothel. Its name is a reference to scandalous activities which took place to the east of Hamilton.

Bayfield Clark, an well known architect, rented and restored the house in the 1940s and during his tenure the property was a Bermudian showplace.