The empty site behind the façade of Sliema’s 19th century navel clinic is to be built up into an eight-story residential complex after being given the go-ahead by the planning authority.

The permit to develop the Pjazzetta, submitted by the Gasan Group, was unanimously approved by the Mepa board yesterday afternoon, nearly 10 years after the application was filed.

Over the past decade, the project has fomented concerns and controversy.

However, the only resident of the area who yesterday raised an issue over the fact that the project will destroy a wartime shelter was Astrid Vella, who is also coordinator of the NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar.

Speaking after the hearing, Mark Gasan said he was very happy with the outcome. “After all these years we finally have the permit. Even the public will be getting something,” he said.

Besides 24 residential units, the development will have around 2,000 square metres of commercial space and 1,200 square metres of landscaped area open to the public. The permit is for the restoration of the Grade 2 façade, sanctioning the internal demolition of the building, construction of an apartment block with offices on the ground and first floors, a public garden and commercial outlets, together with a two-storey underground car park with 101 spaces.

The block will be built on the site of the former naval clinic in Tower Road at the corner of Għar il-Lembi Street, of which practically the only remaining features are the façade and the pillars that flanked the gateway to the grounds.

Project architect Martin Xuereb, flanked by developer Mark Gasan (left), listens attentively during yesterday’s board meeting. Photo: Paul Spiteri Lucas

Mepa’s cultural heritage committee found the development proposal “objectionable from the aesthetics point of view”. It also called for the air raid shelter to be protected.

However, the Heritage Superintendence did not object to the proposal despite confirming that it would result in the loss of the shelter, which it called a “subterranean rock-cut corridor”. It recommended mapping and recording of this feature “as a mitigation measure”.

During the hearing, Ms Vella took issue with this position.

“This is a fully fledged shelter marked in the wartime registry at the Public Works Archive and it isn’t a corridor,” she insisted.

Board chairman Vince Cassar replied that “if the Superintendence said it was a corridor then that is what it is”. The Superintendent had visited the place, he added.

Timmy Gambin, a Mepa board member, clarified that it had always been described as a shelter to the board. It was not the type of shelter that formed part of a network.

He added it was not fair to say that all Sliema’s heritage was being lost as a big effort had been made to save a shelter in Dingli Street.

Other residents who spoke out during the hearing complained of the already heavy traffic that would be made worse by the project. “The traffic will be chaotic, especially when Għar il-Lenbi is closed due to the presence of a tower crane,” Saviour Demicoli pointed out.

The new block will be two metres higher than the height limitation for Tower Road but it still falls in line with the mandatory eight-storey threshold, since the lower two floors of the façade are higher than normal. The same principle was applied to a block of apartments, which had kept its original façade, next to the nearby Preluna Hotel.

Architect Martin Xuereb said the lower storeys would be built from local hardstone with traditional materials and elements including wooden louvres to screen the balconies. The higher levels will be clad.

However, several board members, including Mepa CEO Johann Buttigieg, expressed concern about the design.

“This could be a landmark building – not only in design but the location and context,” he said.

In fact, on Mr Buttigieg’s suggestion, the design of the building was kept as a “reserved matter” in the permit conditions, which means it must be discussed further with the board at a later stage.

The square will become a landscaped space secured through a public deed, under which the developer is obliged to keep it open.

Although the site is outside the sensitive area of Għar il-Lembi and Għar id-Dud caves, all excavation work will be monitored.