Sliema development

I refer to a letter under the title Streetscape Under Threat (May 7) whereby Martin Rossignaud chose to ignore certain important planning facts about this application and most of all the location of the site.

While Mr Rossignaud rightly pointed out that the site is composed of two adjacent houses, he omitted the fact that one of the properties is a corner house with a frontage on both Stella Maris Street and Howard Street.

As the photo clearly shows, adjacent to this corner property in Howard Street there is an old four-storey block with an even higher roof structure.

With an existing blank party wall of over two storeys between the two adjacent buildings, it was decided to screen this by adopting a terracing effect. This was done for obvious aesthetic purposes and in line with good planning practice.

In fact one of the conditions in the outline development permit clearly states that "The height of the replacement and massing is to conform with policy NHSJ06 of the North Harbour Local Plan.

"The corner building is to be stepped down from three floors along Howard Street (the two-storey corner building) to two floors on Stella Maris Street (one-storey building)."

Additional to this the permit also states that "Roof structures are to be in accordance to all relevant policies."

The Planning Directorate is currently evaluating this full development application in accordance with the outline development permit conditions and all other current planning policies for this area.