The area where Forestals had its showroom in Gżira will be turned into an 11-storey high “bastion-like structure”, according to the Sliema Residents’ Association.

The association said the application, due to be considered by the planning authority next week, would replace the last long stretch of low-lying buildings on the Gżira-Sliema front, from the Charella home for the elderly to Sacro Cuor Street.

The application has been recommended for approval by the case officer. But the SRA said such applications breached several Malta Environment and Planning Authority policies and would detract from the architectural glory and surviving heritage of two adjacent scheduled sites – Villa Bonici and Belvedere Terrace.

“This development will create over 100 two- and three-bedroom apartments, yet no environment impact assessment has been commissioned to study the problems such a massive development will have on the area and on the already chaotic traffic situation,” the association said.

It argued Sliema was already “plagued” with excessive pollution, congestion, noise, overpopulation, lack of fresh air, loss of privacy and gardens. “So why cram more into an already congested locality?”

Sliema required more open spaces rather than more housing and commercial units, many of which were empty, it said.

People in Sliema do not want the ex-showroom to be turned into an 11-storey building. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli