The demolition of an existing town house, located in Balzan’s village core for the development of six terraced houses with underground parking facilities and pools was today refused by the Mepa Board on grounds that the proposal goes against a number of planning policies including the failure to protect and enhance the amenity of the existing gardens that form the unique character of Balzan.

The two storey, traditional corner town house which was proposed to be demolished incorporates a very large garden and forms part of a series of village houses that are all in a very good state and altogether contributing well with the rest of the streetscape. In its garden there is an old pavilion and a large underground water cistern which had been converted into a WWII shelter by the addition of a flight of stairs.

This was the fifth application that the Mepa Board refused on this site since 2003. Although this proposal was considerably smaller in size to previous applications the board still felt that the development will compromise the character and heritage of the urban conservation area of this traditional village.

During the public meeting the Board also approved two proposed developments within the confines of the Valletta Waterfront. These included the development of a single storey shopping mall with an overlying multi-storey car park and the change of use of Pinto and Forni stores into catering facilities, offices and a multi-purpose space.

The approved car park site will accommodate nearly 140 cars, while the design of building will replicate the existing design used throughout the development of the Waterfront project.