An application has been filed to build an 11-storey hotel development along Triq Guże Howard, one of Sliema’s narrowest streets, an NGO has revealed.

The proposed hotel in Sliema would stick out like a sore thumb.

If approved, the 35-metre building will create a jarring five-storey blank wall subjecting surrounding tenants to perpetual darkness, with all natural light and air completely shut out, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar has warned.

Under the 2006 local plans, this street was only considered suitable for developments capped at six storeys. However, through the controversial height limitation adjustment policy for hotels in 2014, hotels were given a carte blanche to add as many floors as they wanted.

Howard Street is barely eight metres wide, and if the spirit of sanitary laws were to be respected, development here should be limited to seven floors.

"Appallingly, even this most fundamental piece of legislation aimed at ensuring the most basic levels of sanitary conditions was also stripped of its effectiveness when last revised in 2016," FAA said.

Despite proposing 94 suites, the hotelier will not provide a single parking space. Such an exorbitant increase in parking demands would cripple the already over-congested parking situation in this densely urbanised area, FAA said in a statement. 

Transport Malta has also raised its concerns about the development and demanded that parking be provided on site.

FAA insisted that no parking fee or penalty can make up for the severe shortfall and chaos this development will create.

"The excessive building height increase will lock in the increased air pollution, and create dismal living conditions for these residents who are being forced to pay for the hoteliers' gains."

The various policy changes implemented over the past four years have enabled incremental relaxation to building height regulations, resulting in over-development creating poor sanitary conditions through reduced light and air, overburdening of sewage and waste management facilities and gradually corroding the livability of Malta's towns and villages.