Plans for a new nine-storey building on Front Street has garnered additional objections over its potential impact on the skyline of the City of Hamilton.

Developers hope to tear down the existing 91 Front Street structure to create the new global headquarters for Brookfield Reinsurance and the company’s Bermudian-domiciled listed affiliates, Brookfield Property Partners, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Renewable Partners and Brookfield Business Partners.

However, the planning application sparked an objection from representatives of the neighbouring Chancery Hall about the impact the project would have on nearby buildings.

Additional objections have since been added to the file, primarily focused on the proposed building’s height.

One letter of objection complained that the proposal “grossly” exceeded the maximum building envelope and setbacks for both Front Street and Reid Street and would eliminate views of the Cathedral from the area around Lower Ferry.

“Similar applications elsewhere in the Historic and Retail District have been rejected and ultimately refused on the basis that there is no discretion in the matter,” the letter continued.

“No substantive argument is presented for breaching virtually every planning provision in this district apart from the fact that there is a new City Plan being drafted.”

The objector further raised concerns about the knock-on effects of allowing such an application moving forward.

The objector said: “What is to prevent future development on the rest of Front Street following this precedent if it is approved?

“Over-development of this kind will further delay interest in North East Hamilton in the same way that allowing excessive development (in particular the Ace and Excel buildings, the Waterfront and Waterloo House) outside the City boundary along Pitts Bay Road has almost totally stifled new development within the City boundaries for the last 30 years.”

The objector added: “If, every time a large or well-heeled organisation (or influential person) wants to do some kind of development which is outside of the stated planning policies of the day, it is given approval by SDO (or by the Minister on Appeal) then it renders the whole purpose of planning policy a farce.

“I support the redevelopment of the property in question, but this can be accomplished within the scope of the City of Hamilton Plan 2015 and without necessity for the variances being requested which, if granted, will ruin the skyline of the City and the dominance of the Cathedral in the setting.

“Brookfield are to be commended for their interest in locating their new HQ in the centre of Hamilton and should be asked to respect our community and comply with the City of Hamilton Plan 2015 parameters for development in the location they have chosen.

“This would demonstrate their commitment to Bermuda and support for the long-established planning policies and their purposes.”

The Bermuda National Trust also said it was concerned about the building’s proposed height.

In a letter of objection, the BNT said: “While we appreciate the building falls below the height of ‘grade-1 listed Cathedral, the dominant feature within the City’s skyline’, and the proposed design is stepped back from Front Street, we have concerns about the height.

“Although we understand that the existing building(s) must be demolished, we recommend the salvage of historic or iconic features such as the ironwork, so they may be preserved and reused on site or elsewhere.

“We note that bricks salvaged from the Ceasar shipwreck are proposed to be reused for a feature wall in the design. Although we appreciate the public highlight of Bermuda underwater cultural heritage, we have concerns about the permanent installation and potential damage to such original cultural heritage artefacts.”