The disused Belle View bakery, formerly a popular stop for fresh doughnuts and cheesecakes, is to be replaced by a block of apartments and a supermarket.
The planning authority yesterday unanimously approved the application to turn the disused building in Mellieħa, which occupies an entire block, into 18 apartments spread over two floors and five penthouses on top of the supermarket.
The block will be served by a three-storey underground car park and two LPG storage tanks.
Before it fell out of use almost a decade ago the building used to be a favourite stop on the way to the beach or to Gozo.
The project was considered to be “acceptable” by the case officer especially because the bakery is no longer in use and the building will be developed “while introducing a residential aspect”.
His case report noted the proposed supermarket would replace an existing commercial building located in a residential area.
The project also incorporates two underground 500-litre vertical tanks for LPG storage to service the development.
Both the location and size of the tanks have been approved by the Malta Resources Authority.
The application was filed by Raymond Mintoff, co-owner of a supermarket chain that includes Shoppers in Mellieħa.
Transport Malta accepted a traffic report saying the impact would be minor and could be managed through a series of mitigation measures. It also accepted plans for 116 car spaces: 28 for residents and 89 for shoppers.
Separately, the planning authority postponed a decision on an application to build a new residential complex in place of Villa Bonici in Sliema, so that both the authority and applicant could consult their lawyers.
Representing the developer, architect Edwin Mintoff said he was “extremely surprised” that the application had been scheduled for discussion yesterday because his client was in advanced discussions with planning officials to draw up a development brief.
Plans in the application before the board had been superseded by fresh ones, he said.
“There a fundamental point relating to the approval of the project – the approval of the development brief,” he added.
The hearing was postponed for a month to allow the planning authority and the developer time to take legal advice on the best way forward.