Maria Spiteri (The Sunday Times, April 1) misinterprets the views of the Environment Protection Directorate (EPD) on a proposal to build 46 additional units at the Portomaso complex in St Julian’s.

The EPD report related to this application states that the EPD has concerns about the revision of planning permit conditions related to this site. The procedural and legal questions associated with the revision of permit conditions are certainly not matters to be decided by the EPD. Nonetheless, we have made it a point to flag our concerns.

Regarding the protected ecology in this area, this mainly involved a plant species known as Wedgefoot Grass (Sphenopus divaricatus) which was observed on the site in the 1990s. After the application to construct 46 additional apartments at Portomaso was submitted in 2008, the EPD requested an up-to-date study of the ecology on site and the area was surveyed accordingly.

This study of the ecology in the area, which is openly available for viewing on the Mepa website, indicates that Wedgefoot Grass is not present on the site and that it has not been observed there since 1999, some 13 years ago. The environmental conditions in this area do not appear to be conducive to Wedgefoot Grass thriving there again. Another noted species known as the Maltese Sea Chamomile (Anthemis urvilleana) is limited to a small patch close to the coastal periphery of the site.

As the vegetation currently observed on site is considered to have low to negligible conservation value, there are no longer strong reasons to secure the preservation of the site on specific ecological and scientific grounds, as is indicated in the EPD report.

However, this should not be taken to mean that there may not be other valid reasons why this site might be left undeveloped. The EPD favours open and green spaces in urban areas whenever possible.