An appeal hearing on the planning authority’s refusal to accept new plans for the controversial Ħondoq Ir-Rummien project will take place next week.

The appeal was filed after the Malta Environment and Planning Authority refused to accept a fresh set of proposals submitted by the developers, who have suggested replacing the planned yacht marina with a swimming lagoon.

The regulator said the updated plans had to be submitted through a new application, prompting an appeal from the developers of the €120 million project in Gozo.

The hearing will take place on Tuesday.

The project to build a five-star hotel, 285 flats and villas, 731 underground parking spaces, 10 shops and five restaurants had been slammed by Mepa’s environment unit and several environmental groups. These associations are calling for the Ħondoq area to be converted into a national park, run by the council, and rehabilitated into an open space for everyone, as was originally earmarked in the area’s local plans.

An online petition urging the planning authority to turn down the project has attracted more than 4,000 signatures.

The petition can be found at http://raxerri.com/soshondoq .