As was widely feared, the Malta Environmental Planning Authority Board has issued the first permit for the highly controversial building of almost 1,000 residential units in a number of eight to eleven storey towers on the site of the former Mistra Village, one of the highest ridges in Malta.

Mepa had informed environmental organisations that it would be meeting to discuss two major development proposals in Xemxija and Tigne during one board meeting, a highly unusual event.

Environmental NGO's and other objectors were only informed of this Mepa board meeting last Friday, less than a week before the scheduled date.

An environmental impact assessment commissioned by the developers shows that this construction proposal in Xemxija was to have numerous negative impacts, not only on the nearby environment, but also on a national level.

The Board put off a decision on the controversial Fort Cambridge apartment blocks project in Tigne, voting 5-3 in favour of a motion moved by board member, architect Joe Farrugia.

Mr Farrugia said that the proposed 23 storey development was "preponderant, too bulky, too big and unacceptable". He suggested that the architects consider making a proposal which respected the 16-storey height limitation in the development brief.