Plans to build a high-rise tower at Tigné Point have been scrapped, The Times can reveal.

Instead, the tower, which was proposed by real estate developer Midi and opposed by Sliema residents, will be replaced by open landscaped space.

The consortium, which owns the multimillion euro project in Sliema, has withdrawn its planning application to amend the Tigné north master plan.

Sliema residents and those who registered a formal objection to the development application have been told about the change in plans in a letter from the planning authority.

“The planning authority has been notified by the applicant of the withdrawal of the application, which was intended to amend the Tigné north master plan,” the letter said.

The application was to increase the maximum volume of floor space and height that had been approved in the outline development permit. This called for an update of the environment impact reports. “The update was in fact initiated and related to the visual assessment and effects on visual amenity and air quality. Now that the application has been withdrawn, these studies are no longer required,” the letter explained.

It added that the developers would be revising and making new submissions to the applications for the other blocks in the development and would be replacing the proposed high-rise tower structure with an open landscaped area.”

Midi CEO Ben Muscat explained that the company had been “planning to shift” approved floor space from another phase of the project to the tower but “this proved complicated and the board decided not to pursue this issue any more”.

All the changes to the other blocks in the Midi project were being made in conformity with approved permits and there would be no increase in the other blocks, he said.

When asked whether Midi was considering replacing the tower, Mr Muscat said there would not be any other high-rise structure. The Tigné Point project is expected to be fully completed by 2014.

The move to scrap the tower was welcomed by the Sliema Residents Association, saying it is a positive outcome for the area “given the existing stress of traffic, parking and services, not to mention pollution and crowding”.