Mepa would consider giving permits for tall buildings in Marsa, Gzira, Tigne, Paceville and Qawra, a consultation meeting on a proposed high-rise buildings policy heard this afternoon.

Architect Joe Scalpello said that the five localities mentioned were identified in the proposed policy as being in line with Mepa’s floor area ratio policy.

While tall (higher than 10 floors) buildings for office space would be considered in Marsa and Gzira, high rise buildings for tourism purposes would be considered in Tigne, Paceville and Qawra.

Although Pembroke was not identified as a site for high-rise buildings, proposals in the locality could also be considered.

One of the conditions of the new proposed policy was that any site proposed for a tall building had to be surrounded by four roads. At least half of the site also had to be left as an open space.

There could be no high-rise buildings in Gozo.

The main objection from the floor, which was made up mainly of developers or their representatives, was that the condition that a proposed site had to be surrounded by four roads was too restrictive as it was not leaving enough flexibility for design.

No NGO representatives were present for the meeting.