ERA greenlights redevelopment of Mellieħa Bay Hotel, which will double in size

Updated 7.45pm with ERA statement

The Environment and Resources Authority has given its green light to the demolition and redevelopment of the Mellieħa Bay Hotel, despite its two-fold increase in size and experts' concerns about its environmental impacts.

When the board met to discuss its position on Friday, the consultants of the environmental impact assessment said the project was going to have major impacts on its surroundings, including the loss of a considerable number of trees as well as excessive noise levels during the construction phase.

In a statement, the environmental regulator said that the proposal it approved had "improvements from prior submissions", would see construction shifted away from the coast and lead to "about 4,500m2 restored to its original state and returned to the public".

The ERA statement argued that the new proposals would confine construction to an already built area and "its ancillary landscaping and infrastructure."

Its approval will be sent to the Planning Authority and makes it much more likely for the planning application submitted by developers to be approved by the PA.

The developers are proposing to set up a concrete batching plant on...