will come into effect on April 1.

Environment Minister Pamela Gordon said the changes come under the Development and Planning Act 1997.

"I wish to highlight two important changes which, in my opinion, will be of interest and benefit to the general public,'' she said.

"First, planning permission for a draft plan of subdivision will last for three years and not two.

"Secondly, plans of subdivision will be automatically registered by the Minister and the process will no longer depend on landowners remembering to make a further submission.'' The Development and Planning Rules 1997 will also be in place from April 1 and are substantially different from the last set, which date back to 1970.

New procedure rules will be in place, the Department of Planning will be responsible for advertising all planning applications and renewing planning permission will also be simpler.

"Under the new rules, the property owner need only submit a standard letter to the Department of Planning within three months of expiration date and the planning permission will be renewed for another two years,'' said the Minister.

New application forms and explanatory notes will also be in effect from April 1 and work is underway on a Bermuda Residential Building Code as well as expanding the scope of the General Development Order enabling more applications to be dealt with under the 24-hour permit system.

"A report on improvements to the planning appeal process will be released in the summer and later on this year the Department will begin a thorough review of the 1974 Planning Act,'' said Ms Gordon.

"The Department intends to work closely with professionals in the private sector on each of these projects.

"This invariably means it will take longer than expected to finalise the regulations and secure legislative approval.

"Nevertheless, the Department and I are committed to this programme and, all being well, the code, a new General Development Order and new appeal rules will be put in place over the next 12 months,'' added the Minister.