The planning authority’s environment unit has no objection to a beach lido project, created through land reclamation, on the Gżira promenade.

The “proposed development per se is not considered objectionable from an environmental point of view” as long as it does not create “open-ended pressures” for further similar developments along the Sliema and Gżira promenade as there is no holistic plan for the area, the Environment Planning Directorate said.

The directorate was giving its reactions to an impact report drawn up by the developers of the project to construct a lido made up of a swimming pool, bathing area and restaurant.

This proposal, which was downscaled from the original one presented to the planning authority, would cover an area of around 2,300 square metres.

Four adjacent hotels – Bayview, Kennedy Nova, 115 The Strand and The Waterfront – created the project designed for hotel guests and paying users.

There will also be a children’s play area and garden for public use spanning an area of around 300 square metres.

The environment unit noted the project would have a heavy visual impact when seen from the Sliema and Gżira promenade, with “an almost complete obstruction of the views of the sea and Manoel Island”.

This obstruction should be made up by “providing adequate pedestrian access along the proposed reclaimed coast,” it said.

The limited access to the coast would negatively affect the public, recreational fishermen, boat owners but the unit said it “could be avoided by providing adequate pedestrian access and mooring space along the proposed reclaimed coast”.