Plans to expand the Panorama Hotel in Mellieħa have been scaled down by the developer who is now proposing to build one and not three additional storeys.

The proposal fuelled controversy amid concerns it would create an eyesore, distort the village’s skyline due to its close proximity to the parish church and result in overdevelopment.

Located on the top of a ridge, the five-storey hotel built in 1966 commands breath-taking views of Għadira Bay.

V&C Developments filed an application last August to build two additional storeys and, subsequently, submitted fresh plans to include an additional penthouse level.

Apart from residents, the Mellieħa council had also objected to the development on grounds it would breach the height limitation adjustment policy for hotels. Though the latter allows for two extra storeys or even more in certain circumstances, the council had argued that the development in question did not qualify for such extension as its footprint was below the minimum requirement.

Objections had also been raised by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which noted the hotel’s “extremely prominent” location would “further negatively impact” long-distance views of the nearby Grade 1 scheduled parish church.

The developer has now submitted fresh plans showing that the project has been scaled down to just one additional floor. The applicant is citing a development permit issued in 2010, through which the planning authority had already given the green light for an additional floor, on condition this would be receded. This condition had been deemed crucial, as the planning watchdog had originally refused the request. Following an appeal, the decision had been overturned on grounds that the construction of an extra floor would not be considered as an additional storey as long as it would be receded.

Moreover, the permit stated that if the hotel would cease operations, the recessed floor would have to be removed. For some reason, this project did not materialise and was shelved.

Nine years down the line, this permit is being invoked to justify the building of an extra floor, even though the exiting proposal would still result in the development of the entire footprint.