The fate of a 19th century stately townhouse in the heart of Sliema is expected to be determined on Thursday.

The Planning Authority will decide whether to allow the building, part of a row of houses built by the clergy in the 188's and for which the street is named, to be turned into a monotonous apartment block.

The development originally envisaged the demolition of the building, retaining only its facade.

The Planning Directorate has recommended the refusal of this application for various reasons, among them, its infringement of the permissible building height in village cores

In response to last January's criticism from Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, the applicant revised the proposal, but is still insisting on the development of four additional floors above the original building as well as a six-storey development instead of its mature back garden.

The Superintendent recommended a refusal of the development, and went on to call for its scheduling as well as that of the row of adjacent properties equally described as warranting protection.

The Planning Directorate has recommended the refusal of this application for various reasons, among them, its infringement of the permissible building height in village cores, its negative impact on this area’s character and its infringement of the need to rehabilitate and restore buildings of heritage value, FAA said.

"FAA urges the Planning Commission to take on the recommendations of the Superintendence and the Planning Directorate to not only ensure the protection of this property and those in its immediate vicinity, but also to ensure the true relevancy of the planning process and its consultants," it said.