Plans to demolish a 150-year-old house in the heart of Sliema and replace it with an eight-floor hotel have been scrapped by the courts, following an appeal lodged by NGO Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar.

The proposal to demolish the St Mary Street two-storey house, which dates back to 1861, had originally been refused by the Planning Authority. The Planning Tribual had however overturned that decision and said developers could forge ahead with their plans.

FAA continued to battle for the building to be saved, and this week a court of appeal finally quashed the proposal.

In a statement, the NGO said it hoped that the verdict would serve as a precedent to challenge “other damaging projects”.

Several historic buildings still dot St Mary Street, which cuts across Manwel Dimech Street. But their long-term preservation remains in the balance, with the narrow street having been stripped of Urban Conservation Area status more than a decade ago.

That decision, the FAA said in a statement, was due to “developers’ pressure”.

The NGO pointed to other concerning applications in Għaxaq, where Palazzo Giannin was facing pressure from developers, and Rabat, where plans are afoot to build two hotels in the Saqqajja area.  

“Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar calls for increased protection of Malta’s heritage areas, which reflect our national identity and attract tourism,” the NGO said. 

It urged members of the public to help support its work by donating through the organisation's website.