The Mepa board overturned a negative recommendation from its planning directorate on Thursday with regard to a small coffee bar, Kenza, to be opened in Old Mint Street.

The DCC hearings on the matter were inconclusive and the issue was referred to the Mepa board.

The recommendation to refuse was brought about by the consideration that a coffee bar is categorised as Class 6 and this is forbidden in a residential area because of noise, and the bad impact it has on the neighbourhood.

But the developer pledged that no loud music would be played and that no cooking would be done on site.

The local plan for the site area says only Class 3 outlets such as stores could be permitted.

The developer also pointed out that a similar Class 6 application has just been granted to another only a few doors away, but it was pointed out that this application is in the city centre area where such Class 6 outlets are permitted and encouraged.

The applicant further submitted this was a substandard house and cannot be turned into a residential unit. The Valletta local council too objected to this application.

During the discussion at board level, while some argued that Mepa cannot police what a developer promises, such as that no cooking be done on site, others argued that this is a small house and a derelict one at that and the alternative to the approval would be yet another empty house.

The board then voted by a margin of one to overturn the negative recommendation.