The Planning Authority board today approved an application to turn three adjoining houses in Schreiber Street in the middle of Paceville into a three-star six-storey hotel with 70 rooms.

The new hotel will replicate the business model already used by the Valentina Hotel across the street. The two hotels are owned by the same person.

The new hotel will have no less than four levels of underground parking, thus resulting in parking in excess of requirements.

At the hearing, most of the discussion turned out to be regarding what the applicant proposes to do about the blank wall on either side. An aerial view showed there are many blank walls in the area but the applicant, through Perit Edward Xuereb, replied the walls will be given a special visual treatment to remove the impression of a blank wall.