The planning authority has approved changes to a planned development on the site of the former Forum Hotel in Swieqi, increasing the amount of residential units and the size of a supermarket on site.
The development was originally approved in 2013, and consisted of 25 houses, 78 apartments, a number of office buildings, a supermarket and underlying parking spaces and lockup garages.
The amendments approved this afternoon will convert a number of planned office spaces into residential units and provide for additional parking spaces, as well as a 1,999 square-metre extension to the supermarket.
According to the project architect, the amendments were within the same area and volume of the original proposal, and actually constituted a slightly slower height than that approved.
In her report, the case officer noted that the change from office to residential use was consistent with the previously-approved residential area. As residential spaces are considered as lower impact than offices, there were no objections to the change.
The Traffic Impact Assessment revealed that the existing junctions were sufficient to handle the increased traffic flow.
Clearance for the changes was issued by Transport Malta on condition that works relating to additional road markings were carried out at the developer’s expense.
No environmental impact assessment was carried out as the project did not exceed the thresholds necessary for such an assessment.
The Mepa board gave its unanimous approval on a number of conditions, including that the nearby Greens supermarket be decommissioned before the planned supermarket begins operations.
The Mepa board also approved an application for Maritim Antonin & Spa to get an additional two storeys.
See also http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130425/local/mepa--forum-hotel.466985