It was not heritage issues that concerned the Design Advisory Committee in the case of plans for a controversial new apartment block in Sliema, but a certain far-right similarity.

The application was recently approved by the Planning Commission but not before a lengthy back-and-forth between the project architect and the committee over the design for the façade for the landmark green building.

Until, after one redesign, the committee spotted something.

“The committee considered [the plans] and is of the opinion that the motif around the balcony should be redesigned so as not to resemble '2', '5' or 'swastikas'.”

The design appears to have been redesigned to eliminate a possible resemblance to the Nazi symbol - and to make greater use of natural limestone.

Read: Landmark Sliema green building is set to be demolished

The 19th-century house in St Agatha Street – known to locals as Id-Dar il-Ħadra (the Green House) for its unusual green facade – will be demolished to build an eight-storey block including maisonettes, apartments and basement garages.

Over several hearings between November and last week, the plans were amended to retain several important heritage features and integrate them into the new development, including a back terrace arcade, a spiral staircase and the niche on the facade (though not the rest of the facade).

The 19th-century house in St Agatha Street, Sliema.