The façade of the housing block opposite the new Parliament building at City Gate, Valletta, will be given a facelift, with a number of open stone balconies being replaced with traditional closed timber ones.

The planning authority board yesterday approved a permit to embellish the housing block’s exterior, including proposed commercial outlets.

The case officer pointed out that the proposed interventions would soften the visual impact of the housing block and blend better the existing block with the new City Gate project.

The open balconies in the central and two lateral bays will not change. The three central arches in the arcades facing Republic Street will be replaced by a flat arch similar to the rest of the arcade.

The housing block, formerly known as the Porta Reale Shopping and Housing Complex, was completed in 1974.

The design of the shopping arcades in the lower levels was intended to complement the design of the City Gate entrance.

A proposal, also included in the development request, to install a public lift from Republic Street to Pope Pious V Street was kept as a reserved matter.

The parapet wall over the arcades will be replaced with a wrought iron railing having a similar design as that used in the City Gate project.