Lija council has expressed its satisfaction that an application to sanction the construction of a terraced house in Merino Street was refused because it was not in line with the permit given.

The council said that permission for the building of a number of terraced houses on a site designated a protected open space enclave was issued in 2006, only a few weeks before the formal approval of the Central Malta local plan.

The construction of a number of the terraced houses was not carried out in line with the permit and the Malta Environment and Planning Authority issued three enforcement orders against which appeals were lodged with the Planning Appeals Board.

Four development permission applications for the sanctioning of the illegalities were submitted.

The council said it had insisted against the granting of the permits and its position has now been vindicated.

It said it expected the same outcome in an application for a development to replace a garden in one of the village’s most beautiful streets, which garden was illegally destroyed and on which an enforcement order has also been issued.