The Minister of Environment has given planning approval to the tallest office building in Bermuda?s history.

The ten storey Seon Place, initially refused by the Development Applications Board (DAB) in December, was ultimately overturned on appeal February 12, it emerged yesterday.

The property developer is former Premier Sir John Swan who will build the structure on a part of Front Street that welcomes motorists into the city from East Broadway.

The former United Bermuda Party leader commended the Government for being ?open minded?. He said yesterday: ?This is big news ? the first time in history. I think one should not look at this as just a higher building. Look at it for what we?re going to do.?

The ten storey height of Seon Place violates the City of Hamilton Plan 2001 which is the reason the DAB refused to approve it back in December.

It is also the reason the Bermuda National Trust threw itself into the fray as an official objector. But the Hamilton Plan has been steadily losing its power as a viable document.

The Mayor of Hamilton and other city leaders are in the process of reviewing the plan and hope to come up with new guidelines for the city, including new height restrictions.

When contacted yesterday Mayor Sutherland Madeiros said of the review: ?It?s not a short process. The Corporation in general feels the 2001 Hamilton Plan needs to be revised. We haven?t taken the next step yet. The next step is after we do our research we go to the Minister with the presentation.?

And of course, with Seon Place, Environment Minister Neletha Butterfield has already shown a willingness to build higher within the city limits.

The Minister was unavailable for comment yesterday, but the Ministry?s permanent Secretary offered an explanation on the decision. Wayne Carey said in an e-mail: ?The City Plan allows for a maximum five storey development at that site. However, where a development extends through an entire city block, the maximum height of the development is determined by the higher grade.

?In the case of Seon Place, this means a seven storey building (plus use of roof space) is allowed under the City Plan, since Reid Street is two storeys higher than Front Street at that location.

?The Seon Place development proposal was for a nine storey development along with use of roof space.

Therefore, since the DAB could not approve the development, the developer decided to appeal to the Minister, as provided for under the Development and Planning Act 1974.

?In this instance the decision of the Minister was to uphold the appeal taking into account the views of the objectors as well as the developer.?

With planning approval firmly in-hand, Sir John is looking forward to the construction phase.

He said: ?It?s going to be a very contemporary building and that?s what Bermuda should have, it?s an emerging country.

?It?s a big commitment to the aesthetics of Hamilton. It?s to get away from the idea that every building must be chock-a-block up against the roadway on either side, particularly the Front Street side, because that?s what happens to every building on Front Street expect the Cabinet Office.?

Ultimately, the Seon Place project may have shattered an old way of thinking ? where, generally, no building?s height was permitted above six or seven storeys.

It?s an analysis that Sir John agrees with.

He said: ?It makes eminent sense to me and those who designed it.

?All the conditions are ripe for going up, particularly in that location which is at the beginning of the city, it has the backdrop of Fort Hamilton, it does not obstruct a lot of people and will have fabulous views of Hamilton Harbour.

The complex will comprise of two buildings, each with a similar design to the new Bermuda Commercial Bank building on Par-la-Ville Road. They will be joined together by a central core housing four elevators and bathrooms.

It will be a mixed-use scheme, providing 122,000 square feet of office and retail space spread over nine floors.

Office space will also be built into the roof level, making it a ten story edifice on the Hamilton Harbour waterfront.