The planning commission’s approval of the demolition of two townhouses in Sliema’s Sir Arturo Mercieca Street to make way for a block of 10 apartments has been criticised by the environmental NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar.

Parallel to Dingli Street, Sir Arturo Mercieca Street is a narrow road full of construction sites, so much so that the exit onto the Sliema promenade had been blocked for a number of months by a tower crane positioned in the middle of the road.

The NGO said it has been objecting to the over-development of Sliema and St Julian’s since the 2006 Local Plans were approved. FAA said that according to studies it had carried out the original 125 houses in Sir Arturo Mercieca and Sir Luigi Camilleri streets could be redeveloped into 1,250 apartments in each street.

“This is unthinkable, considering that besides the issues of water, electricity and drains, if built and inhabited, these apartments would draw some 5,000 new cars to the area,” the group said.

The air pollution generated by these developments was already negatively affecting residents, it said, let alone when the blocks were built, trapping vehicle emissions between the high buildings in the narrow lanes.

The go-ahead for the demolition of two adjacent townhouses was given on condition that the façade of the buildings would be maintained. The new block will include a basement garage for 15 cars, which will be accessed from a neighbouring third party property. The building will be three storeys high.

The development was considered “acceptable” because it fell in line with the height limitation, design considerations and policies for urban conservation areas.

At the back of the property, there is a paved yard with trees. The Environment Protection Directorate did not object to the project or the uprooting of the trees subject to a number of conditions. “The directorate has considered that the existing open spaces are made up of paved yards and the area is not designated as a green enclave,” it said.