A project to build a block of 30 apartments instead of a villa in Swieqi has been cleared by the planning authority.

Apartments, maisonettes, two shops, including a butcher, an office and basement garages, will be built on the site in Triq l-Uqija, where the Forum Hotel used to stand.

It is located within the development zone and has a footprint of about 1,330 square metres.

The local plan for the area set the building height limitation at three floors with semi-basement. Transport Malta said the scale and nature of the development, which was recommended for approval, did not require a traffic impact statement.

The Environment Protection Directorate noted there was no need for an impact report, adding that a number of trees to be uprooted were not protected and, therefore, no permit was needed for their removal.

It did not object to uprooting and transplanting the trees in question.

Instead of the Forum Hotel, Mepa has authorised the building of 12 semi-detached buildings, 12 terraced houses and 79 apartments, together with offices, shops and 490 car parking spaces. The permit was issued in April 2013.

The hotel had 142 rooms, three pools, tennis and squash courts and a pool bar, which covered an area of about 11,300 square metres.

The nearby Greens Supermarket will also be relocated to the complex, freeing up the nearby square from heavy traffic congestion.

In total, the built-up area will amount to 27,000 square metres.

The density of the development was reduced following numerous meetings between the planning authority and residents.

The permit includes a condition that an independent monitor must ensure all conditions are followed during. A planning gain of €50,000 has been imposed, to be used by the Swieqi local council for an embellishment project in the area.