An overhaul of the Department of Planning which has seen incomplete applications automatically returned has been applauded by environmentalists.

Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy announced the policy earlier this week, saying it would help speed up the Planning process by freeing up administrators distracted by “substandard” applications.

The Bermuda Environmental Sustainability Taskforce (BEST) has applauded the move, claiming it could stop unscrupulous developers deliberately sending in faulty applications in the knowledge that they would be rejected, allowing them to then file an appeal with the Minister.

“Far too often developers or their agents have provided insufficient or misleading information,” BEST chairman Stuart Hayward said.

“In some cases it is easy to believe this has been done deliberately with the result that an application gets turned down, which then opens the process to an appeal wherein a Minister has the discretion to allow the development on an application even though it is flawed or otherwise inadequate.

“While we are wholly supportive of the Government’s intent to improve efficiency and turnaround time, we remain cautious that streamlining the process does not include bypassing important safeguards currently built in to application procedures.

“As Bermuda becomes more densely populated and developed, the pressures on planners and policymakers will increase. We will need Ministers to have stronger resolve to resist pure expediency and uphold the regulations that have helped Bermuda retain its attractiveness to tourists and its environmental health for locals.

“As an ingredient of that resolve, we look forward to greater enforcement of Planning regulations.”