Il-Pjazzetta residents who were evacuated from their homes as a precaution were able to return on Sunday after having spent close to two weeks at a hotel. 

The Sliema residents whose apartment block is adjacent to the old naval clinic were instructed by project developers to move out earlier this month as a precaution after cracks were reported in one of the nearby residences.

“Everyone returned to their homes on Sunday after spending the past two weeks in a hotel.

“We have since been informed that there is no danger and we can go back to our apartments,” one resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told this newspaper yesterday. 

The residents had spent the first night in one of the nearby hotels before being moved to another hotel. While there, they were allowed to enter their homes to retrieve any belongings they needed but could not stay there for too long.

The project at il-Pjazzetta was approved in 2014 and will include an eight-storey complex including offices, retail outlets, apartments and underlying garages.

In the past, il-Pjazzetta residents and heritage groups raised concerns about the possibility of damage being caused to the underlying air raid shelter and to an extensive and fragile cave system, including Għar il-Lembi and Għar id-Dud caves.

There have also been complaints about the aesthetic impact of the development, which will protrude from behind the facade of the old naval clinic.

According to the resident, those who were evacuated have since been reassured that they are in no danger, despite the cracks that have since emerged in the walls of their homes.

“They informed us that we are perfectly safe and that any cracks on our walls will be taken care of,” the resident said.

Attempts to contact Martin Xuereb, the project’s architect, proved futile.