A planning application to reconstruct an abandoned hotel located on outside the development zone land in Mellieha has been withdrawn, the Planning Authority's website shows.

Developers Mizzi Estates had filed an application to demolish and reconstruct the Festaval Hotel in 2022. The site is close to the Red Tower and is in a dilapidated state.

The case officer had noted that the site is within an Area of Ecological importance and a Natura 2000 site protected under both birds and habitats directives, and it is also partly within the buffer zone for the protection of several scheduled World War II defence posts. The application had been recommended for refusal by the case officer, who had noted that the Applicant/Perit had failed to submit requested information within the established time-frames and therefore, the application could not be assessed completely and in a holistic manner to establish the principle of the proposed development.

The Mellieha local council was also against the project.

The case status of the application has now changed, and reads that the application for development permission was withdrawn by the applicant.