The Planning Board today refused permission for the installation of newly designed canopies with a retractable roof over the permitted outdoor catering area of the ‘is-Suq Tal-Belt’ food court, an authority statement said.

The existing shading structures had been granted a temporary permit in 2018.

The Board cited that the proposed retractable canopies together with the vertical supports are not in conformity with the provisions of the PA’s Development Control Design Policy, Guidance and Standards in that these are not considered to visually relate to the facade of the scheduled building Grade 1 and the surrounding context.

Furthermore, the Board agreed with the Development Management Directorate’s recommendation that the proposed structures are considered obtrusive and do not respect the amenity of the surrounding third-party properties, the statement said.