Besides this, PA approved several other proposals related to the 33-storey main tower through the application (PA/05530/22) filed by Mercury Towers Ltd. a company belonging to construction mogul Joseph Portelli.

These include a cutback in the number of residential units from 428 to 419, an increase in the height of the suites blocks by 900mm, an access point, pool and glass balustrade at roof level, and a waste collection station at basement level that will cause a decrease of 11 parking spaces. 

More changes to the previously approved plans will see the transformation of a space forming part of the backhouse to an underground entertainment arena featuring a go-kart track and other amenities.

The gym will also relocate from the hotel to the basement.

This application was discussed yesterday and in approving it, the PA imposed conditions proposed by the planning directorate. This includes a bank guarantee of €20,732 to be paid to the Building and Construction Agency to ensure proper restoration of the roads following the completion of works, along with another bank guarantee of €232,948 to ensure that the development adheres to permit conditions.

The approval of the application was voted unanimously by the board, according to the Times of Malta.

Plans to develop the Mercury House site and develop a tower had been part of the Pender Gardens project up until 2017. Portelli submitted plans for the site in July 2017.

The original development brief, which was approved as part of the €24 million 2005 concession, originally limited the height of the tower to 15 storeys and stressed that its use should be limited to offices, shops, top-floor apartments and penthouses.

However, by 2012, the Planning Authority approved extending the plans to two towers of 19 and 18 storeys. By the time Portelli applied, the permit extended to two towers of 40 storeys and 25 storeys.

A “compromise” was reached which would see Portelli develop a single 31-storey building. Still, a permit for a second 23-storey building was eventually submitted and approved in 2020.

What do you make of these changes?