New city plan takes responsive approach to building heights
The height of buildings for new projects in Hamilton will be negotiated and assessed based on their location and contributions to the surrounding area, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation announced today.
Diallo Rabain told the House of Assembly that under the City of Hamilton Plan 2025, project proposals would be required still to meet infrastructure standards, ensure design excellence and maintain compatibility with neighbouring properties.
He said the blueprint marked a “cultural shift” in approaching development in the city and noted: “For too long, outdated policies have limited good projects and prevented officers from using their judgment to achieve well-balanced results.”
The plan, which excludes the North East Hamilton Local Plan 2022 area, came after periods of public engagement, consultation and technical analysis.
Mr Rabain said it was produced following a consultative draft in 2023 and a tribunal review last year.
Each step in crafting the plan reflected “a commitment to inclusion, evidence and fairness”, he said.
The minister noted that multiple stakeholders — from the Corporation of Hamilton to residents and businesses — contributed to the final product.
“This collaborative spirit will continue as we implement it,” he added.
During the consultation process, the issue of building height was shared with technical officers.
Mr Rabain explained: “This plan does not open the door to 30-storey skyscrapers in Hamilton.
“While the plan eliminates rigid, citywide height limits, it maintains control and common sense.
“Instead, it introduces a smarter, more responsive framework that considers height and massing based on a building’s location, context and design quality.”
Mr Rabain said arbitrary maximums for structures have been replaced with “a more tailored and place-based approach”.
He added: “This is not a green light for unchecked vertical growth.
“It is a call for thoughtful, contextual and community-minded development that works for Hamilton, not against it.”
He said the plan was crafted on the principle of placemaking, which serves as a framework that underpins every major element of the document, ranging from transportation to green spaces and housing to commercial revitalisation.
Mr Rabain said development must contribute positively to the human experience of the city “not just in appearance, but in how people move, gather and interact”.
He added: “We prioritise people and where they choose to spend time, economic activity naturally follows
“By focusing on design, walkability and mixed uses, we believe Hamilton can become more than a place of business — it can be a vibrant, safe and inviting urban destination.”
While space in Bermuda is limited, Mr Rabain said there is opportunity around the island, particularly in Hamilton.
He added: “The city already has the infrastructure, services and transport connections.
“If we are to achieve compact, efficient and sustainable growth as an island, it makes sense to maximise development in the one place already built for it.”
Once approved, the plan will be published in the Official Gazette, and members of the public can view the full documents online at planning.gov.bm.
• To read the City of Hamilton Plan and Diallo Rabain’s remarks in full, see Related Media
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