Santa Marija Estate residents are up in arms over a planned development that would consist of 12 semi-detached houses built on six plots, which they claim is against planning policy.

The residents' association yesterday filed a judicial protest against development company Cenmed and the planning authority.

Santa Marija Estate had been turned into a residential area in 1963 by Cenmed, which sold plots under very strict conditions in order to keep the building density low, the residents said. In fact the planning authority had imposed conditions on the building of plots.

The area was limited to detached villas or bungalows and only 20 per cent of each plot could be built while the rest had to be greenery, the residents said.

However, the planning authority revised its original policy in 2007 and building coverage was extended to 30 per cent and semi-detached units instead of villas were allowed to be built.

This lead to the planned development of the 12 semi-detached units on six plots instead of six bungalows on six plots, the residents claimed, complaining that the authority was going against its own policies and this lead to the degradation of the area that had particular characteristics typical of Mellieħa Bay.

Moreover, the residents said what was being proposed to happen was a contractual breach by the developing company, a decision that would impinge on the residents' quality of life, especially after they had specifically chosen to live in the area because it had unparalleled quality.

They are holding Cenmed and the planning authority responsible for any damages.

Lawyer Patrick Galea signed the protest.