New development slated for the former Belmont Hotel has drawn praise from the National Trust for attempting to balance the Island's often competing needs for development and conservation.

But while the Trust applauded developers Belmont Hills Development Company for recognising the need for lower to mid range housing units in Bermuda, the conservation watchdog also raised concerns about the scheduling of the hotel's construction.

The property's owner received a Special Development Order from Environment Minister Dennis Lister last month which will allow for a multimillion dollar housing, hotel and golf complex on the site.

The plans calls for the construction of 73 residences as well as a 120-room hotel on the 85-acre Warwick site.

The 150-room hotel which once graced the property closed its doors in 1998 but a portion of its structure will be kept and converted to apartment units under the new plan.

In July 2001, American Richard Halsey purchased the property and his cousin Kevin Petty of Somers Management and Somers Realty is acting as managing director of the project.

In a letter to Mr. Petty last week, National Trust environmental conservation officer Peter Drew praised the developers for their commitment to sustainable development.

"(The development) incorporates many elements crucial to a harmonious balance between residential and tourism development while sensitively and selectively retaining a great area of green, open space and woodlands for recreational and conservation management," Mr. Drew said.

"Positive aspects incorporated under this application include a full sewage treatment plant, new waterways (ponds), woodland management planting schemes and community-based residential development for lower and middle-income family purchase."

The bulk of the residential units included in the plans for Belmont will be one and two bedroom units.

Mr. Drew continued: "The Trust agrees with your contention that there is both a social and economic need for Bermuda cottage-type housing units at the lower to mid price range and trusts that during the development period that principle is retained."

But Mr. Drew also noted a fear that proceeding with the residential units in the first phase of construction might leave the hotel development portion open to "noncompletion".

"The Trust asks that you remain committed to achieving the entirety of the development application in completion of all phases, in this way achieving the concept of sustainable development," he wrote.

The developers have also pledged to protect agricultural-zoned land near the new golf course by planting endemic plants.

"The development application in its totality is a comprehensive redevelopment of tourism, recreational and residential zones area which suitably incorporates environmental management and conservation into a plan of sustainable development for Bermuda," Mr. Drew noted.

"The Trust encourages and recognises your commitment to using native and endemic plantings and the environmental management of the golf area is highly commendable."