Plans to move Artemis Racing’s America’s Cup guest pavilion into Hamilton and turn it into a visitor’s information centre have been given the green light.

The Bermuda Tourism Authority’s proposal to move the building to a site on Front Street near the junction with Queen Street was approved by the Development Applications Board earlier this month.

Under the terms of the DAB’s permission, the structure will have to be removed in five years “in order to safeguard the amenity of the surrounding area”.

BTA chief operating officer, Karla Lacey, said: “We are pleased to have secured the approval of the Planning Board as we chart a new way forward for visitor services in Bermuda. As we’ve been telling our stakeholders, the Bermuda Tourism Authority visitor services plan in Hamilton covers several primary objectives including: better face-to-face engagement with visitors so that we can guide them to the growing list of experiences available to them across the island.

“Secondly expose visitors to Bermuda’s local entertainers in an intimate setting where the island culture truly shines through; and thirdly better utilisation of the Hamilton waterfront, a space visitors adore but we believe is underutilised in the visitor experience, particularly as Bermuda spreads her wings as a year-round destination.”

The building is three storeys tall with a roof deck and is decorated with images of Bermuda’s coastline.

Plans for the building include restrooms, an office, storage areas and a balcony overlooking Hamilton Harbour.

The building is designed to easily connect to utilities like electricity and water, while its modular design means that it could be easily removed if necessary. The minutes of the DAB meeting state: “It was explained that the various consulting bodies supported the application and the Department was of the opinion that the structure could generate discussion and ideas for future redevelopment schemes for the waterfront.”