An artist’s impression of the lido.

An outline application for a lido on reclaimed land along the Gżira promenade was yesterday given the green light by the planning authority.

The project, which will include a swimming pool and two restaurants, will cater for guests of four nearby hotels piloting the project: Bayview, Kennedy Nova, 115 The Strand and The Waterfront.

The facilities will be also open to the public at a cost, while the developers are pledging free access to all Gżira residents.

However, some board members remarked that the latter proposal was “unrealistic and farfetched” and appeared to discriminate against non-Gżira residents.

This arrangement had been made in the wake of the council’s initial objections which were subsequently dropped. No council representatives were present for the hearing so the issue could not be probed any further.

The project will not spill over into the existing promenade, the board was told. It will also include a children’s play area and an exhibition zone for public use. A two-metre-wide passageway along the lido will ensure public access to the shoreline.

The developers are committing themselves to provide an alternative site for all licensed boat moorings which will have to make way for the project. They also pledged that talks with Transport Malta and the Gżira Fishermen’s Association, which has raised concerns over the impact on its members, will start in the coming days.

The proposal is a downscaled version of the original plans but will still involve the reclamation of an area measuring 2,300 square metres.

The new design was deemed as more acceptable because the visual impact of the blocks housing the restaurants was reduced.

The project was approved, with NGOs’ representative Alex Vella being the only board member voting against on the ground that the impact on the already acute parking problem in the area had not been given sufficient weight.

During the same session the planning authority board unanimously approved an extension to the Riviera Hotel in Marfa which will increase the number of rooms from 242 to 293. These will be housed in a new recessed floor on the southern wing and by extending part of the hotel overlooking the sea.

Works also include a new reception area, an extension of the restaurant, a roof splash pool, as well as the pedestrianisation and embellishment of the seafront promenade

For this project, the board imposed a planning contribution of over €32,000 in favour of the Urban Improvements Fund.

Another condition was that the new car park to be constructed adjacent to the hotel will have to be left open to the public at all times.