A PN MP has spoken out against a planning application for a guest house that would be built in the Urban Conservation Area of St Julian's.

The application in question is for a property on Triq Sant' Elija, and proposes the change of use from a dwelling to a guesthouse, and would include the construction of additional floors, to reach a total of 7 floors (including ground floor), one of which will be a setback floor, and the development will cater for 11 guest rooms. According to plans, the setback floor will be higher than those adjacent to it.

Currently, the building stands at 4 floors

PN MP Albert Buttigieg, posting on social media, claimed that although the applicant is applying for a guesthouse, "the application is really a hotel by another name."

He said he is objecting to the application, saying that once this application is approved, "it will further commercialise our core village."

He also said that the proposal would result in an unacceptable increase in height in the UCA, "where the setback floors on adjacent buildings are not equivalent." He also lamented that more parking spaces will be lost. "From daily experience, the quality of life of our residents will suffer further."

For this reason, this application should be refused, he said. "The PA has the responsibility to safeguard our core/UCA from further commercialisation."