A government-owned historical property at risk of being demolished after being left derelict five years ago has been thrown a possible lifeline.

Habitat for Humanity, a charity that provides affordable housing to the needy, may consider renting the property if it can negotiate favourable terms with the Government.

Sheelagh Cooper, chairwoman of the board of the charity Habitat for Humanity, said that the organisation had originally submitted a proposal to Government to renovate the property shortly after it was abandoned in 2018.

She said that the charity had been willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating the home in Devonshire, in exchange for a lease for up to 15 years, when it would be used to provide housing for up to three families.

Although that proposal was rejected by Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, Ms Cooper said she was “not opposed” to making a new offer if the move was backed by Habitat’s board.

Ms Cooper said that Alison Crocket, then the Deputy Governor, had contacted Habitat in 2019 shortly after she had moved out of Montpelier.

Ms Cooper said: “She suggested Montpelier, that she had recently vacated, was in dire need of renovation and would be an ideal setting to house families on a transitional basis if we were to take on the project.

“We met with a senior government official in charge of the property, who took us on a tour and encouraged us to put forward a business plan that included the requisite renovations.

“The plan, which involved the restoration of the site and the ultimate accommodation of two to three families in transition from homelessness was submitted to the department that same month. Our understanding was that the plan was rejected on the ministerial level.

“It may be that the proposed use of the building was not appealing to the minister, but it is a shame that the level of disrepair has now reached such an advanced stage that the cost may be prohibitive.

“We could have put it to good use, housing families who are desperate for somewhere to live. Instead, it’s just been laying there empty. It’s such a waste.

“Although we are fully engaged in another large project, Habitat remains open to all possibilities that involve the renovation of derelict buildings to be used for a charitable purpose.”

Ms Cooper said that she would consider taking on the property again, but needed to consult with Humanity’s board first.

She said: “I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to reconsidering the project, although it’s probably deteriorated more in the last few years.”

Ms Cooper’s views echoed those of the Bermuda National Trust, which has argued that Government policy on abandoned historical properties was short sighted.

On Monday the charity said that some properties in Government’s portfolio had been neglected for so long that they were now beyond repair.

A BNT spokeswoman described Montpelier as a listed building that could still be restored, adding: “But if neglected for much longer, it may deteriorate to the point it cannot be saved.”

Those comments were prompted by news that civil servants in the Department of Planning had moved ahead with plans to renovate the structure — and that when Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister for Public Works, was informed by this newspaper of the development, he swiftly blocked it.

Colonel Burch told The Royal Gazette: “With the application for Montpelier having just been brought to my attention, I have now requested the list of any and all other planning submissions and I can assure you that none of these will proceed without my full review and consent.

“At this juncture, I can confirm that work on this property [Montpelier] will not commence at any time in the near future and that no funds have been budgeted or allocated for the same.

“I, like the rest of the country would agree, our money, the taxpayers’ money, would be far better utilised on more pressing and critical matters like road paving, which is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, at present.”

Yesterday The Royal Gazette e-mailed a series of questions for the attention of Colonel Burch.

We asked if he refuted BNT claims that government policy was short-sighted. We also asked why he had turned down Habitat’s offer to renovate and take over the running of Montpelier at no cost to Government four years ago.

We further asked if he now regretted that decision, and if he would reconsider it if Habitat came forward with a fresh proposal.

Colonel Burch did not provide answers to those questions by press time.