An application for a five-storey mega apartment complex in one of Santa Lucija’s green open spaces has been filed with the Planning Authority, with the locality’s council crying foul at it.

The proposed complex would include 75 garages, 5 maisonettes, 36 apartments and 7 penthouses spread over 5 floors in an area of 1,273 square metres.

The site is along three roads in Santa Lucija: Triq Katerina Vitale, Triq il-Fortizza, and Triq l-Istefanotis, and was added to the development zone as part of the infamous rationalisation exercise back in 2006.

The area, which is undeveloped was recommended for residential development, although one of the restrictions for this to take place is a building height of three storeys.  This being said, that restriction was loosened in 2015 by changing the way the ‘storeys’ outlined by the 2006 local plans could be interpreted.

This means that while the building is five storeys in height, its actual height in metres is close to the height of the blocks found around the undeveloped site, even though they are just three storeys.

The application was filed by Anton Camilleri, who wrote in the PA’s Public Application Form that he is not the owner of the site but that he is applying with the permission of the site’s owners.

The Santa Lucija local council has unanimously objected to the mega-apartment complex, and has also decided to hold a consultation meeting for residents on 7 September in order to explain the reasons as to why it is objecting to the proposed development and to hear from residents before tabling its final objection with the Planning Authority.

The meeting will take place at the Tea Room at the Garden of Serenity.