The Planning Authority has approved the application for the restoration of the façade of St Lukes Hospital.

"This approval will now pave the way for works to start on the hospital building which is set to see the reopening of the hospital as part of a €220 million deal that the government secured through Vitals Global Healthcare," a statement read.

A newsletter by Vitals Global Healthcare published recently read: “the initial sections will serve as the ‘reference standard’ for other sections of the building which will be restored on an ongoing basis. These initial panels will represent the look and finalise our restoration methods”.

The newsletter article, which was also reported by this newsroom, read that the group will order windows for both the entire hospital block, as well as the Karen Grech Rehabilitation Hospital.

“Soft stripping will start very soon within the entirety of St Luke’s. Work will include the interior demolition of virtually everything which is not either historically protected or structural in nature”.