Environment Minister not told of flats plan

Saturday 1st September 2007, 12:00AM BST.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Freddie Cohen says that he knew nothing about an approved scheme to redevelop a Trinity hotel into 41 apartments.

Senator Cohen has launched an internal investigation after developers were given permission by two senior planning officers to convert the Highfield Country Hotel, in Route d’Ebenezer. The family-run hotel has been sold by its owners and will close in October for re-development. Senator Cohen says that although he approves of the scheme, he is surprised no one told him about it. ‘While there is absolutely no criticism of any of the officers involved, I was surprised that a decision of this magnitude was taken under delegated authority,’ he said. ‘I have therefore asked the department to undertake a review of the powers of delegation. In the future, big decisions will have to come from the planning applications panel, the assistant minister, or me.’

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