The permit issued for the controversial farmhouse redevelopment in Baħrija belonging to Nationalist Party president Victor Scerri "is null" and should have never been issued, the planning authority's auditor says in his report into the case.

The report has not been released yet but the auditor, Joe Falzon, told The Times he concluded that the last permit issued in relation to the project (in a line of four) clearly ran against the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's policy and should have never been given.

The report is awaiting the final comments of Mepa chairman Austin Walker who is, in turn, waiting for legal advice.

He said there were doubts about the previous permits too but would not elaborate.

Mr Falzon got involved when Dr Scerri himself asked for an investigation after environment groups cast doubts over the permit as the land lies in open countryside outside the development zone.

A protest attended by hundreds was held on site where excavation work had already started. Dr Scerri, who denies any impropriety, has stopped the work pending the conclusion of the auditor's investigation. He has also asked the police to look into the matter.

The construction of the farmhouse in the middle of a pristine valley was granted a permit despite repeated objections of case officers on four separate occasions.

The project goes back nine years when the first application was submitted to partially demolish two rooms that stood on the site. The planning authority had refused the application but eight years later authorised the total demolition of the rooms and the construction of a larger farmhouse on the site.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com