An application to renovate the Bank of Bermuda building on the main square in St. George's has been turned down by the Department of Planning.

The bank applied for permission to renovate the front entrance, build an access ramp and complete internal renovations which included new teller counters as well as internal decorating and electrical renovations.

However, the application, which was made in December last year, was refused for this "listed building" because the development failed to conform with the provisions of the Development and Planning (Applications Procedure) Rules of 1997.

The Development Applications Board also found that insufficient information was submitted to enable a proper assessment of the proposal.

The DAB also found the application did not provide an elevation of the building with the proposed additions and was not satisfied that the proposed development would not be detrimental to the architecture of this listed building and historic setting of the area. The current building stands on the site of the first Government House in St. George's which was erected in 1613, but was demolished by Samuel Harvey in 1693 after being in disrepair since 1685.

When the second Government House was built in 1699 nearby by Governor Samuel Day, the area that housed the original Government House became a garden for the second Government House ? later, the Globe Hotel. In those days and until 1815, St. George's was the capital of Bermuda and the area remained vacant land until the 1930s when John Smith built a grocery shop on the site.

The modern bank was built in the 1970s after Mr. Smith's grocer was demolished.

Planning permission has been granted for a new five-storey office building in Brunswick Street in Hamilton.

The Development Applications Board said this week that a building permit would also be required. The board also stated that the use of the building would be restricted to commercial office development.

The director of Government's Department of Communication and Information has applied for retroactive approval to cut into rock on a boundary at Piper's Peak, Warwick. Beverle Lottimore has also applied retroactively for a retaining wall to stabilise portions of the rock cut and the erecting of a safety barrier atop it.

Bermuda Broadcasting Company (BBC) has applied to remove asbestos from its Fort Hill Road, Devonshire, headquarters. BBC has also applied for permission to install new fire exit stairs, interior renovations and upgrades to its washroom.

The Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo has applied for permission to construct a new zoo support building and hospital. Curator Ian Walker said the new zoo hospital will include a quarantine room, kitchen and research room.