The Mepa board yesterday approved the rehabilitation of stores at Lascaris Wharf Valletta which will become the SMS Shipping offices.

The building, at the bend just down from the tunnel, has a rather narrow frontage but is quite extensive inside with unique wooden rafting covering most of the vaulted space.

The wooden decking will be retained while a suspended floor will create a second space above it. Care will also be taken to ensure that ventilation fumes from the garage will not harm the rafting.

At yesterday’s meeting, the Mepa board also approved the reconsideration of road alignment and limiting building heights at an area in Dingli, bounded by GA Abela Street and Triq San Pawl tal-Pitkal to two storeys and three course-basements.

The minister responsible for Mepa had earlier not approved the directorate’s recommendation and sent it back for reconsideration after consideration of the surrounding buildings.

At the hearing, the discussion delved into asking what differentiates a washroom on top of a building from a penthouse, with an agreement that such a difference is clear.