An application to develop three Art Deco houses in Dingli Street, Sliema is on hold so that a revision of the classification of houses and height limitations can take place.

This was decided by the Development Control Division.

An application before Mepa proposes to tear down the interior of the houses in question to make way for six-storey apartments. The façades would remain intact, the developers say.

The proposed development has attracted heavy criticism by heritage NGOs and by the Sliema local council.

The DCC recommended that a revision of the scheduling of the houses and the height limitation of the whole street is carried out before any decision on the development is taken. It also proposed that neighbouring properties are classified in the same manner to ensure a homogenous planning solution.

It noted inconsistencies in the scheduling of the houses, pointing out that one house is designated as B+ and another as C.

Environmental NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) welcomed the decision, saying Mepa can now afford "the luxury of common sense".

It noted that the Mepa case officer described one of the houses as being almost a national monument (Grade 1) whereas the 2006 Sliema Local Plan downgraded it from Category B+ to C.

The NGO urged Mepa to carry out the review as soon as possible and to desist from issuing permits that might violate what the review could conclude.

It also called for the long-overdue start-up of the Heritage Fund which was established 20 years ago to provide financial assistance for the owners of heritage properties but was never activated.