The developer behind the 32-storey high Mercury House project in Paceville has submitted an application to add a second 22-storey tower to the site.

The project will include a 22 storey multi-purpose block housing 88 residential apartments, a hotel, retail, offices and other amenities.

In his application, Gozitan Joseph Portelli also seeks to ‘reorganise’ the size of the already approved development and incorporate the addition of a residential floor on the 31st floor, an amenity floor at level 32 and a bar and swimming pools at roof level.

This would result in an increase in the approved height of 8.11m to reach an overall height of 121.06m above street level

An application for the site (which is a Grade 2 schedule monument) approved by the PA in 2012 initially included two adjacent office towers of 19 and 18 floors. However, this was dropped in favour of one singular 32-story tower.

Controversy has consistently accompanied the development, with the authors of the Paceville master plan (which now seems to be shelved permanently) UK planning firm Mott MacDonald found to have been a consultant on the Mercury House development.

The project, as well as other proposed high-rise buildings in and around Paceville, have also been criticised by environmentalists for their impact on the skyline and the impact of construction on residents.

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Julian Bonnici

Julian is the former editor of Lovin Malta and has a particular interest in politics, the environment, social issues, and human interest stories.