A judge rejected a call by two residents at the luxury Portomaso complex to stop further development there, deeming the request premature.

Mr Justice Geoffrey Valenzia, sitting in the First Hall of the Civil Court, ruled that the application aimed at halting the planning authority from processing a development application at Portomaso could not be upheld because the applicants had other remedies available to them at law.

The residents argued that the planning authority had originally stipulated that a part of the complex could never be developed.

However, the court noted, that had happened before the 2006 Structure Plan was issued. Furthermore, the planning authority’s condition had been made in regard to four permits but not to many other permits.

Mr Justice Valenzia said the applicants were entitled to contest the application at the planning authority and, eventually, even appeal to the court on a point of law.