Work to clear out and tear down a Front Street building to construct a nine-storey office block has begun.

The demolition of 91 Front Street is to make space for 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.

The plans for the site also include retail space on the ground floor and along Chancery Lane.

The plan was rejected by the Development Applications Board on November 8, in part because the height of the structure was deemed “excessive”, but the decision was subsequently overruled by Vance Campbell, the Minister of the Cabinet Office.

A spokeswoman for the ministry said that the project was a “major investment”, which would translate to more jobs and opportunities for Bermudians.