An affordable housing scheme has been scaled back in terms of family housing.

Environment Minister Glenn Blakeney has approved an amendment order for the Grand Atlantic Resort and Residences, which reduces the number of three-bedroom units to less than half.

Special Development Amendment Order 2010 allows for 30 three-bedroom units of 1,400 square feet and 95 two-bedroom condos of 1,100 sq ft.

The number of hotel rooms and fractional units of the Grand Atlantic Resort and Residences remain the same.

Other stipulations are the condos must be set back 50 ft from the coastline. Landscaping plans must also be submitted to the Environment Minister for approval.

The original plan for the public-private partnership outlined 74 three-bedroom condominiums of 1,287 square feet, and 51 two-bedroom units of 1,068 sq ft.

In June of last year, an amendment to the Special Development Order issued for the scheme's development reduced the three-bedroom units to 71, each measuring 1,200 sq ft. Two-bedroom units increased to 54 1,000 sq ft units.

Mr. Blakeney was unavailable for comment on the reasons for the amendment.

Shadow Environment Minister Cole Simons however, questioned why the plans were under the oversight of the Minister and not the Development Applications Board. Mr. Simons said: "The application should go to the DAB for final approval, but this says the final details should go to the Minister.

"Before, it said the SDO was 'in principle' subject to going to the DAB for final approval. If you have an infrastructure to review for projects of that magnitude, the professionals at the DAB should be allowed to go to work, not leave it as a political decision."

He added: "Also of concern is traffic congestion. That area is probably one of the most congested areas on the Island so this development is just going to compound the problem.

"The Government has not addressed the increased traffic flow and how to manage it in such a densely populated area."

He said Tribe Road No. Two also needed to be re-established, as the proposed development "straddled it".

"They have to correct their plans so the tribe road can continue to the beach," he said.

"Government needs to do a lot more work to make sure the area is safe for residents."

Warwick South East MP Alex Scott admitted traffic was a concern voiced by residents at a recent meeting to discuss the project.

The meeting was also attended by Mr. Blakeney and Premier Ewart Brown, Transport and Tourism Minister.

Mr. Scott said: "We invited the community to a presentation. Once the architect and Minister for Planning [Mr. Blakeney] described the broader brush parameters of the development there were questions.

"There were about 40 people at the meeting and the consensus was most people seemed to find it helpful. Residents were concerned about traffic flow from the new residents coming into the area, because their coming and going will add to a heavily-trafficked area already.

"We discussed the exits and entrances for the proposed development, and how that will impact on the existing thoroughfare. We also talked about safety crosswalks for pedestrians, such as those using the bus stops."

Mr. Scott said: "I will certainly ensure that the constituency is kept up-to-date on the development as it takes place, and hold further meetings."

The Grand Atlantic Resort and Residences were unveiled a year ago, in what was described as a "win-win" for Bermuda.

Government is to buy half of the 13-acre former Golden Hind site in Warwick to kickstart the hotel and low-cost housing project.

The capital will assist landowners Atlantic Development Bermuda to fund its Grand Atlantic Hotel and Spa on the site. The 100-room hotel will sit on one portion of the site, with 125 affordable homes on the other. Twenty fractional units are also planned.

The housing development is expected to be built in four phases and has an expected completion date of 2013.

Representatives of Atlantic Development Bermuda could not be reached for comment.