Planners have given the green light to major reclamation work from the seabed to create the America’s Cup Village.

The work will involve dredging to both the North and South Channels to provide the 11 acres of land.

At the start of the month, the Development Applications Board approved the proposed reclamation work, which will provide aggregate for two phases of work, but also set down a series of conditions.

The first stage will see the construction of the America’s Cup event village in the South Basin. The second phase will involve the creation of a new Marine and Ports headquarters and a commercial marine facility and marina.

During lengthy discussions about the planning application, DAB members sought clarification on a raft of issues from the technical officer.

The minutes of the meeting state: “The Board asked for clarification that the dredging of the South Channel will make up the shortfall in fill from the dredging of the North Channel. The technical officer confirmed this to be correct.

“The Board asked if the entire length of the South Channel will be dredged. The technical officer confirmed that the dredging would occur from Shelly Bay to Grassy Bay.

“The Board asked if consideration had been given to dredging of Town Cut. It was noted that dredging of the Town Cut is under consideration, however, it does not form part of the proposal before the Board due to time sensitivity of the current application.”

Water clarity levels will be monitored throughout the construction process, while further applications setting out the specific details for phase one and phase two are expected to be submitted with later applications. The DAB followed the technical officer’s recommendation and approved the application, but insisted on a raft of conditions to protect the environment as well as potential sites of historic importance.

The minutes of the meeting state: “If during construction a previously undetected underwater historic wreck or artefact is discovered, the applicant shall cease all construction operations and immediately contact the Department of Planning to re-evaluate building options and agree on a suitable course of action.

“Construction operations shall not recommence until the approved option has been agreed in writing.

“Prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Use and Occupancy for the land reclamation component of the application, evidence must be supplied to the Department of Planning to demonstrate that a plan detailing the implementation to create a new sea bird roosting habitat in an alternative location has been agreed with the Department of Conservation Services.”