The possible redevelopment of a villa in an urban conservation area in Sliema is worrying residents especially because the Development Control Commission will tomorrow reconsider the application that had originally been refused.

The Sliema Residents Association said it was "gravely concerned", adding that if the permit was granted it would "irrevocably ruin the character and appearance of the Three Trees area".

The houses in the area, the association said, were classic two-storey townhouses with "extensive, beautiful gardens that link up, forming an open space". It had already proposed that this garden conglomerate be designated as a protected enclave.

A 2005 application for the demolition of Villa Degiorgio to construct basement garages, a ground floor retail outlet, overlying apartments and a penthouse was initially refused on grounds that the design was not in conformity with urban conservation area characteristics.

A new application for the building of an apartment block with the retention of the existing façade was submitted in April 2008 and, last year, the DCC said it had major concerns on the building height and depth, and recommended that the application be refused.

"Any such permit will unleash a dreadful negative domino effect within the locality to the detriment of the remaining residents' quality of life and loss of urban conservation area character", the association said.

Last year, Alternattiva Demokratika had also spoken out against the development, with then chairman Arnold Cassola saying it was "high time" that Mepa took account of the "statements of its own auditor and of objections made by the Sliema local council and residents".

The residents association said it "trusts that Mepa will protect residents from this horrendous proposal and decide to safeguard this area of high environmental and architectural value for future generations".