The Planning Authority, which is expected to decide on the mega project at the former ITS site in Pembroke on Thursday, says it cannot stop the process pending the outcome of an investigation by the Auditor General.
A spokesman said the law prevented the planning watchdog from halting the process.
“In the processing of planning applications, the PA is bound by legislation to take a decision within set time frames,” he noted, adding that “a planning decision by the authority does not prejudice any other legal action which may be taken”.
The National Audit Office confirmed that the investigation demanded by then Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and confirmed by the Public Accounts Committee had yet to start. The Auditor was asked to investigate how public land was transferred to the db Group in March 2017.
PN leader Adrian Delia, speaking late on Tuesday, said the PN representative on the PA board, Marthese Portelli, will be voting against the project because it is not within regulations. 
A spokesman for the National Audit Office said: “Consistent with the Office’s policy of addressing requests for investigation by the PAC in a chronological manner, the Office is presently…