In a heated session that lasted almost two hours, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board yesterday decided to postpone taking a decision on a proposed development in St Anne Square, Sliema.

The board has requested further clarification on the proposed frontage extensions on the first and second floors of the development.

The board, however, unanimously approved the sanctioning of works already carried out at the premises of the former Sliema Social Club and Allwares Store in St Anne Square.

The session got off to a stormy start when Dr Joseph Ellis, representing the objectors, called for a quorum, however Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja insisted that only a vote needed to be taken.

Going over the case history, the Planning Directorate said that in maps from 1968 and an aerial photograph taken in 1998, the structure on which development should take place does not appear. However, this does not mean that it does not exist because it is clearly seen in a 1949 map prepared by the Works Division and this can also be verified by going on site, the directorate added.

The directorate said the Planning Control Unit determined the building line and its decision was not taken on the basis of aerial photographs and/or local plan maps. When showing the new maps submitted by the developer, the directorate explained that the upper floors had receded by around 5.4 metres and this fully satisfied sanitary conditions.

Philip Forace, who owns a shop in the vicinity, said that according to the plans, the pavement would cease to exist.

This statement was countered by architect Christian Spiteri, on behalf of the developers, who explained that the plans had showed how excavation works were carried out but insisted that the pavement would not be touched.

Speaking on behalf of the objectors, Chris Vassallo said that although they had not seen the new plans, they initially appeared acceptable although he requested further clarification on the balconies proposed.

Architect Renato Laferla, who also spoke on behalf of the objectors, said there were anomalies in the designs of the first and second floors and these needed to be corrected because they did not make sense. Architect Martin Debono said that the objectors should have been allowed 30 days to examine the DPA report but instead had less than 24 hours to do so.

After a short presentation by the applicants, the board discussed a motion put forward by the deputy chairperson who proposed that the board should ask for new plans regarding the elevations on the first and second floors before taking a decision. The motion was carried by five votes in favour and four against.

MEPA chairman Andrew Calleja said that the board would reconvene in the first 15 days of September to decide on the application.