A €50,000 fine has been imposed by the planning authority on a large development project which commenced works without waiting for the necessary development permission to an amended planning application.

Although the board commended the project as amended, which included the downsizing of an already approved project and the introduction of a higher quality development which includes 64 terraced houses, the board found it unacceptable that most works has already commenced on site.

The site, which has an area of nearly 8,200m² and falls within the limits to development of Hamrun, with frontage on Triq il-Kanun, Triq Farsons, Triq San Gejtanu and Triq Joseph Abela Scolaro, was granted a full development permit in August 2013.

The site also includes old industrial structures built in art deco-style, previously used as the original Farsons Brewery.

The 2013 development permit integrated the renovation of the industrial buildings and included the construction of 201 residential units spread over four blocks with an underlying basement for 409 vehicles.

The approved and amended permit granted today will result in the development of 64 terraced houses, 11 apartments and two penthouses. The project also includes six shops, an office block, parking facilities for 93 cars and 97 lock-up garages.

The existing facades of the Quarters Building and the other heritage value buildings along Triq Farsons will be retained, while part of the internal façade will be dismantled and reconstructed in the same location.