PLANS for a controversial housing development in Paget will be made available to the public ? but only after a building permit for the project has been granted.

And yesterday contractor Gilbert Lopes said he believed many of the concerns expressed by area residents about the Loughlands proposal were unfounded, and that criticism would die down once more details were released.

Government is working with Mr. Lopes on the project and will buy the homes from him once construction is complete. They will then be sold to the private sector through the Bermuda Housing Corporation.

But Housing Minister David Burch has been under fire after pushing through the 96-home project as a Special Development Order, effectively allowing the controversial scheme to bypass the regular planning process.

Anyone who opposes the plan is unable to lodge an objection with the Planning Department and permission for the project is effectively rubber stamped. Residents have since complained that the area is already over-developed while an additional 96 homes will increase already congested roads.

But yesterday Mr. Lopes said the development would deliver a much-needed boost to the island's housing stock while fears of over-development were unjust.

"We're applying for a building permit and, once that has been granted, the plans will be available in the Planning Department," Mr. Lopes said, adding that, by then, it would be too late for objectors to raise any concerns with Planning officials.

"I will repeat what the Minister said yesterday, that the Special Development Order was granted in order to speed up the Planning process.

"The site is zoned Residential One with a Tourism overlay along with open space and agricultural use. The residential zoning allows for up to 137 homes to be built on the site and we're putting up just 96. Also, none of the open space or agriculture land is going to be developed."

Responding to concerns about increased congestion, Mr. Lopes conceded that traffic would no doubt increase once the homes were occupied.

But he added that new homes built anywhere on the island would add to the number of cars on the road.

"It may add something to the traffic problem, but the traffic problem really isn't the developer's problem," he said.

"The schools add to the traffic problem. How much longer does it take to commute during term time compared to the holidays?"

Mr. Lopes agreed that the property would only provide "affordable" rather than "low-cost" homes, but that there was still a massive demand for such homes in Bermuda.

"I agree it's not low-cost housing, but there are still hundreds of couples who can afford to by a property between $450,000 and $550,000 ? it's just that at the moment they can't because they're not available," he said.

He added that the homes would only be for sale to first-time buyers who could not afford a mortgage in excess of $600,000.