Plans to develop Strait Street into Valletta’s “new Paceville” are aimed at creating a concentrated nightlife hub to attract young people, Valletta 2018 foundation chairman Jason Micallef has said.

Mr Micallef’s vision for the pedestrian lane sent ripples through social media yesterday, with many lambasting the plans.

Asked for more details on the project, Mr Micallef immediately clarified his statement, insisting the term “new Paceville” was a reference to the high number of visitors the St Julian’s area attracts and not the type of establishments found in that entertainment mecca.

“By Paceville I meant a place that attracts youth. Valletta is perceived to be dead at night.

“The reality is that this is changing and we want to help nurture it,” he said.

Mr Micallef said he had noticed a number of new entertainment establishments were opening across the capital and he wanted to concentrate such venues in one location.

This would be done by setting up a “strict zone” stretching some 200 metres from popular bar Tico Tico to the far end of the street.

I see this place lit with red lights and a burlesque theme. Obviously this will be done tastefully

This area, he said, would easily be able to house several establishments as it contained more than 150 vacant government properties.

“I want to divert applications for the setting up of bars and clubs to this one stretch to create a concentrated location,” he said, adding that he would be working closely with the planning authority to coordinate the move.

Asked whether the area would include nightclubs and run till the early hours of the morning, Mr Micallef said it was premature to comment.

He did, however, reveal that his vision for the narrow street was based on a revival of its raunchy history.

“I see this place lit with red lights and a burlesque theme. Obviously this will be done tastefully,” he said.

The proposed plans have raised eyebrows among people living along the narrow street.

Commenting on timesofmalta.com, Claire Aguis said she could already barely sleep at night with the noise generated by the few establishments already in operation.

Mr Micallef said residents would be kept in mind but that some inconvenience was “inevitable”.