Excavation works on the Townsquare high-rise in Sliema, which began last year, have been suspended following the revocation of the development permit by an appeals tribunal, the project developers have confirmed.

The 38-storey tower was approved by the Planning Authority in 2016 and excavation began late last year, to the anger of residents and organisations appealing the decision, which included Din L-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar and the Sliema local council.

The appeals were upheld last week by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT), which revoked the permit, citing the inadequacy of studies carried out for the project, and sent the case back to the drawing board ahead of a fresh assessment by the PA.

A Townsquare spokesman told the Times of Malta on Monday that all excavation had ceased except for limited works to secure third party properties for safety purposes.

The developers have said they remain “fully committed” to the project and that they will be meeting PA officials in the coming days to discuss the way forward for the development, which they insist adhered to policy and met all requirements set out by the PA.

Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar lawyer Claire Bonello told the Times of Malta on Monday that the tribunal’s decision meant all works would have to be suspended irrespective of whether the developers opted to appeal the tribunal’s decision in court.

Dr Bonello reiterated that the tribunal had highlighted several areas where the project clashed with policy, including the calculation of public open space, the lack of adequate or updated studies, and the development’s overall impact.

The start of works last October had prompted NGOs to accuse the developers of seeking to undermine the appeal process by presenting the project as a fait accompli.

The developers countered that they had all necessary permits and that objectors had not requested a suspension of works.

The two sides clashed again in March after Sliema residents complained of being choked with dust from the construction site, with the local council condemning the lack of supervision by the authorities.

The project developers said they had gone to great lengths to contain dust at the excavation site, but had been thwarted by windy conditions.

They had previously committed to mitigation measures, including water-spraying equipment and wheel-washing procedures, to minimise inconvenience.