The government will probably be issuing a development brief for international expression of interest by the end of next month, it was announced earlier this month.

The project has already gone through most of the Cabinet

discussions and the Cabinet committee.

Now it is expected to be given the go-ahead, after some last minute minor alterations have been made.

The original plan was to redevelop the “English building” and the adjacent “Knights’ building”, but now the project has been extended to the nearby square and connecting roads.

The final alterations are being discussed with stakeholders, including the nearby councils, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and Din l-Art Helwa.

There are plans for a mixed use of the buildings although the final plans would have to be negotiated with the eventual developers.

It seems that, besides the restaurants, cafes and other similar outlets, the proposals will include tourist attractions that are linked to the historic use of the buildings with such as state-of-the-art presentations of the Knights’ maritime legacy.