The Sliema Local Council will appeal the Planning Authority Board's Townsquare project decision, councillor Michael Briguglio told The Malta Independent.
"It's a big step forward, especially since the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) said it will not appeal, which is shocking in itself".
The project will include a 38 storey tower built on the Union Club site in Sliema. The Townsquare project will feature 159 apartments, 4,700 square metres of office space, 10,000 square metres of retail space and 748 parking spaces as well as the restoration of the nearby Villa Drago. Last Thursday, the Planning Authority approved the development, with seven votes in favour and six against. PA Chairman Vince Cassar was among those who did not want the project to go through.
Dr Briguglio said that the Environment Authority has lost all credibility. "The Chairman of the ERA did not turn up for the Townsquare meeting, nor the earlier one regarding the Mriehel project. He said he was sick, which is fair enough, but the ERAshould appeal since certain policies were not addressed".
"When government split MEPA the aim was to strengthen the Environment and Resources Authority. How can people have confidence in it when it doesn't appeal on their behalf. These are two mega projects, they are not small projects".
Dr Briguglio said that the council's lawyer is looking into the procedural and technical aspects of the case. He said they have around 30 days to file the appeal.
During the PA Board session, Briguglio mentioned that the social assessment on the impact of the Townsquare project was done back in 2007, and criticised it for this very reason. He argued that the assessment cannot take into consideration the changes which occurred after 2007. He also said a number of people living on certain streets close to the project were not contacted.
The project was heavily criticised by ENGO representatives who were present during the PA Board hearing last week. Representing a number of NGOs, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar Coordinator Astrid Vella questioned who would benefit from the open space, and whether the public would benefit at all. She also mentioned the shadows which would have an impact on peoples' roofs, and as such would effect solar panels etc.
Mrs Vella also said that it would destroy views from Valletta.
During the PA Board hearing, project architect Martin Xuereb said that the construction of a 38-storey apartment building will result in fewer apartments built than if the Townsquare project was built in the traditional manner. This area was always designated for a high rise development, he said, "If we built normally, as sites in Sliema and Tigne are normally built, there would be 26 blocks with 227 apartments, resulting in less open space and a worse infrastructure".