exploration museum which developers say will be "a major new tourist attraction''.

Plans for the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute on property next to Pembroke Hall on East Broadway were submitted this week to the Planning Department for in-principle approval.

The Trust's biggest concerns were the sprawling split-level museum's size and that it would encroach on historic Trust-owned Pembroke Hall property. Members were also against plans to encroach some 35-feet into the waters of Hamilton Harbour, reclaiming about 5,000 square foot of land.

"Foreshore encroachment disrupts marine habitats and would set a bad precedent,'' Trust director Ms Amanda Outerbridge said yesterday.

However, developers say a marine expert had studied the area and concluded the reclamation would have "no significant impact on the overall marine ecology of the area''.

And there would be efforts to re-establish a mangrove swamp in the area which would attract marine life.

The plans call for "alterations to be made to the waterfront'' which would require "a limited amount of land reclamation''.

Land reclamation was essential to create a proper public dock and more room for parking and museum visitors to walk about and rest, developers said.

Fidnat, a partnership between Fidelity International and the National Trust Endowment Company, owns the land and has given the plans its blessing.

In a letter accompanying BUEI plans, Fidnat confirmed it had "no objection'' to the project.

Ms Outerbridge said that the height of the institute would be 54-feet in some places, which is at least as high as the new lamp posts on East Broadway.

"We don't have any objection to the principle of the institute,'' she said.

"But we feel it is too large. The scale and massing of the development are not in keeping with the surrounding landscape.'' She added the museum was not the right development for the Trust's Pembroke Hall property. Its patio and walkway would infringe on the property.

A written objection would be forwarded to the Development Applications Board in two weeks, she said.

The Planning Department has said the plans must be advertised in the Official Gazette before going to the DAB.

The museum, designed by local architects Barker and Linberg, will feature an auditorium, exhibition halls, restaurant, shop offices, storage areas, parking for 62 cars and gardens. It is planned for two acres of land off East Broadway.

Barker and Linberg said the four adjoining buildings would be Bermudian in character, featuring traditional white roofs.

The project was "of immense importance to Bermuda as a major new tourism attraction and a unique entertainment and educational facility for locals and visitors.'' The traffic impact would be negligible, they said. It would not be open during morning rush-hour and buses would be scheduled for off-peak hours. "Water taxis'' would shuttle in visitors.

BUEI's developers are a group of prominent Bermudians including Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul and veteran divers Mr. Teddy Tucker and Mr. Harry Cox.

Ms Outerbridge said that although past Trust presidents were board members of the National Trust Endowment Company, it acted independently of the Trust Council.

It was set up purely to develop the Butterfield land with Fidelity International.

In not objecting to the plans, Fidnat had simply said it was happy with BUEI's developers being its tenants, she said.

The Trust had leased Pembroke Hall to Fidelity International on a long-term basis. Fidelity International is connected to the Institute -- its US owners having pledged $5 million in funding.