According to the Building Heights and Urban Design Policy issued by Mepa in 2006, the height limitation in Stella Maris Street, Sliema, between Capua and Howard streets, is restricted to two storeys, namely ground floor and first floor.

In March 2006 the owner of two houses located in the street submitted an application to demolish the two existing houses, construct two levels of underground garages, ground, first, second and third floor apartments and penthouse. In June 2007 an Outline Development Permission was issued however the height of the building was limited to two floors. So far so good!

In November 2007 a Full Development Application for the said two houses, which ignored the height limitation imposed in the Outline Development Permission, was submitted.

As lately Mepa requested the applicant to submit fresh plans for the fourth floor penthouse, it seems that Mepa are giving favourable consideration to this application notwithstanding that the two-floor height limitation in Stella Maris Street is not being respected. If, as I suspect, this application will eventually be approved, it will be a gross scandal and the future of Stella Maris Street doomed as undoubtedly other similar applications will follow.

It is relevant to highlight that, prior to the March 8 election, the then Minister responsible for Mepa, George Pullicino, had sent a four-page letter to the Sliema residents concerning "Development in Sliema". In it he had specifically quoted the fact that height limitation in Stella Maris Street has been reduced from four floors to two.

As the Prime Minister is now responsible for Mepa, I am bringing this matter to his attention and expect him to honour his electoral promise to eradicate irregularities especially within Mepa once and for all.