A church rectory has been demolished to make way for nine condominiums.

The building, at 106 Middle Road, Devonshire, was razed to make room for four studios, four one-bedroom apartments and a two-bedroom condo.

The Christ Church rectory however, was not a listed building and has been described by church sources as "very modern". A new rectory has been built instead.

The Department of Planning approved the condominium block on a site which contains woodland reserve, agricultural land, green space and a church.

But the land is also classed as 'Residential Two', and a Conservation officer has said "no conservation areas are negatively impacted".

The apartment building will be attached to a newly-constructed two-unit house and will have 15 parking spaces.

The Department of Conservation Services had no objections, except a request that a hedge of "a few important specimen trees" remained in situ.

It said: "This department does not object to the proposed new driveway providing the driveway remains to the right (south) of the existing hedge and the existing hedge remains intact."

A Conservation officer said: "The proposal meets all of the standards set out on the Bermuda Plan and creates no unacceptable impacts. The proposed density is well within what could be permitted on the site and no conservation areas are negatively impacted."

The conditions of the planning permission include landscaping and road safety measures, such as "sight lines for a minimum distance of 90 feet in either direction from a point 6 feet back from the edge of the carriageway".

Representatives of Christ Church did not wish to comment yesterday on the development.