The planning appeals tribunal has ordered a stop to all works on the controversial db Group City Centre project until an appeal against the development is concluded.
The €300 million project, which includes a 37-storey tower and 17-storey hotel, was approved by the Planning Authority in September, despite an unprecedented 4,500 objections from the public, local councils and NGOs.
Preparatory works on site began shortly after approval, but have been brought to a premature halt after an appeal by NGOs and local councils, the first hearing of which took place on Tuesday.
During the hearing, the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) upheld a request by the objectors to order the suspension of works until the appeal is decided, a process currently expected to last until March.
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The City Centre appeal was filed early in November by 17 entities, including the local councils of Pembroke, Swieqi and St Julian’s and several environmental groups, following a crowdfunding drive which raised more than €24,000 to cover the costs of the appeal.
Opposition to the project, which has included several public protests, has focused on the development’s scale and impact on residents, as well as issues of traffic generation and adherence with planning policy.
The last time NGOs and local councils undertook an appeal of similar magnitude was in 2016, against the Quad Towers high-rise in Mrieħel and the 38-storey Townsquare tower in Sliema. In neither case was a suspension of works requested.
While the Mrieħel appeal was unsuccessful, the Townsquare decision was annulled by the appeals tribunal earlier this year, and the developers were forced to return with fresh plans - including an 11-storey height reduction - which are now being assessed by the PA.