While the proposed four-tower development project in Mriehel might look grand on paper, the authorities should consider have its effect on the rest of the commercial property market, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) said this morning.

In a statement, it said, planning authority officials had confirmed that with the present demand for commercial premises, there would be a glut of properties once recent and planned projects were completed.

This meant, FAA said, that the Mriehel proposal could jeopardise the commercial success of other complexes.

It noted that the Paola A4 Towers and Sky Parks had not yet filled, Smart City, and Metropolis had stalled, while Pendergardens, the Exchange Business towers, the Farsons Business Park, Townsquare and Xemxija Towers were at various stages of development.

“Is it realistic to expect that all these projects will be filled, or will we waste more precious land on projects destined to remain semi-vacant and like many of the showrooms built in the past,” it asked.

FAA noted that, contrary to Mepa’s policy of clustering tall buildings, this 18-storey development would rise like a sore thumb, jarring with the far lower skyline of neighbouring villages.

It would also irrevocably destroy the heritage view between Mdina and Valletta, it said.

Mepa, FAA said, needed to take on its responsibility as a regulator by demanding in-depth studies including social impact and cost-benefit analysis to prove the overriding necessity for such a development and the lack of negative impact on health and economic interests.