A playground in the heart of Sliema will be demolished to make way for a three-storey car park, the Planning Authority said on Friday.

A new overlying playground will be built in line with the street adjacent to the 17th Century De Redin coastal tower, better known as it-Torri. 

"The new parking facility will decrease the burden of cars within the area while provide new high quality recreational facilities for the family at street and promenade level," the Planning Authority noted.

Plans for the car park had already been revised to remove any visual clutter and impact on the historic it-Torri, it added.

Works will be carried out within the buffer zone of the Grade 1 scheduled tower and battery.

The location of the restrooms were relocated from the buffer zone of the historical tower following consultation with the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage.

The planning application had been submitted by the Sliema local council over two years ago.