Plans to address erosion at a property overlooking Harrington Sound have been given the green light, despite objections from environmental groups.

A planning application for Palmetto Gardens in Smith’s, submitted this year, proposed remediation works to address undercutting of the cliff face caused by tides and storms.

It met with a series of objections and calls for an environmental-impact statement to be prepared, citing concern about the Harrington Sound Notch — a deep undercutting of the rock formed by black date mussels and other rock-boring organisms.

Despite the objections, a technical officer found in a report prepared for the Development Applications Board that the project would not require an EIS because the work was not considered likely to cause any significant impact on the environment.

“In respect of the need for the proposed works, it is noted that the application is supported by evidence and recommendations of a certified engineer and no contrary reports from an appropriately qualified professional have been provided,” the report said.

According to planning documents, an assessment of the foreshore area by Entech Ltd found that continuous erosion within the tidal zone had caused “extensive undermining” in several portions of the coastline around the property.

Boulder revetment was proposed where undermining was found to stabilise and protect the affected area while preventing further erosion.

The application was opposed by the Bermuda Audubon Society, the Bermuda National Trust and the Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce, which called for an environmental assessment.

The BAS said the Harrington Sound Notch was a unique physical feature that hosted “enormous biodiversity”, while the BNT noted that there was no evidence of immediate risk to the buildings on the property.

The DAB report writer, however, said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Marine Resources Board was consulted on the plans and recognised that erosion was a safety concern for the property.

The board went on to say it could support the project on the condition that any corals in or adjacent to the work area are relocated to minimise harm, and for any coral relocation to be carried out by a qualified marine contractor with experience in coral relocation.

The report writer added: “A recommended condition of approval has been included to ensure that this requirement is met and a further condition is recommended requiring the submission of a construction environmental management plan, with the building permit application to minimise impacts on the coastal environment during construction.

“Subject to the conditions noted above, the proposal is considered to be appropriately sympathetic to the sensitive characteristics of the site and it is not considered that the proposal would pose any significant residual damage to any natural feature of biological, ecological or geological importance.”

The application was considered by the Development Applications Board last week and approved.