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04.04.19 14 PROPERTY GUIDED by a clear vision and thanks to the regenerating ini- tiatives undertaken by various stakeholders, Malta's capital city is once again coming back to life. Nowadays, when walking through Valletta's streets there's a sense of warmth, renewed pride, appreciation, even a sentiment of admiration for all those before us who have built, lived and given the city the pres- tige it always held. For years the city sadly turned into a lingering nostalgic string, deprived of the magic it once had. e Planning Authority (PA) is playing a key role in the revival of the capital, in line with the Government's strategy for Val- letta. is strategy continuously promotes and supports the out- standing universal value of the city of Valletta based on integ- rity, authenticity, management and protection. One of the challenges the Plan- ning Authority faces is to ensure that the right planning permis- sions get approved, in order to give Valletta the recognition it deserves, not only within the local context but also to hold its own when compared to other capital cities. A number of key development projects stand out that may also be attributed to the regeneration and revival of the city's prestige, history and unique character. e fi rst is the extension and modernisation of the inter- nationally renowned St John's Co-Cathedral Museum, which will fi nally allow nearly all of the priceless artefacts to be dis- played adequately, including the world's largest set of Gobelin tapestries. Second, was the move of the Fine Arts Museum from Ad- miralty House in South Street to the Auberge d'Italie. Now known as MUŻA, the new mu- seum seeks to promote greater participation by the community through a story-based narrative of displays and related objects. en there is the revival of Strait Street. Some fi nely-built and elegant dwellings, which had previously been the resi- dences of Knights of the Order and of Maltese notables, are be- ing given a new lease of life. Si- multaneously, this street which was famous for its all night-en- tertainment is again, attracting locals and visitors alike, while serving as a fi nancial injection to ensure its survival. Lastly, there is the Valletta De- sign Cluster. By the end of this year we will see the Old Abat- toir (Il-Biċċerija), one of Val- letta's earliest buildings, being turned into a community space for cultural and creative prac- tice. e venue will include an exhibition space, a conference room, co-working spaces, and spaces for artists in residence, among others. Of course, one cannot just look at our Capital City as an outsider. Valletta is not just a place people visit for culture, shopping or entertainment, it is also home many residents. Bettering their lives is one of the top priorities. To help preserve Valletta's aesthetic value, the Planning Authority late last year initiated the Marsamxett Balcony Grant Scheme. is €2 million grant scheme was launched in collab- oration with the Parliamenta- ry Secretary for EU funds and Social Dialogue, and is serving to alleviate the fi nancial cost of restoring and maintaining traditional balconies, especial- ly those made out of timber, in Marsamxett area. Apart from this, the Valletta residents have also been able to apply for funds through the €10 million Irrestawra Darek scheme. In 2018, these funds weren't only available for resi- dences in Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs) – of which all Valletta is part of – but also to registered voluntary organisa- tions whose offi ces and clubs are situated in Valletta. To ensure that Valletta's streets and areas would once again come to life, the PA also permit- ted a large number of boutique hotels in the city, bringing in further investment while giving abandoned buildings and palaz- zos a new lease of life. While the regenerative pro- jects mentioned above were among the many that helped the city's stellar revival, the ar- guably, biggest impact on those visiting Valletta was the em- bellishment project of Triton Square, the paving and land- scaping of the Valletta Ditch, and the regeneration and con- servation of the covered market (is-Suq l-Antik tal-Belt). On top of the restoration of a number of shopfronts along Ta' Liesse Hill, the PA also gave the green light for a further two projects; the restoration works on the façade of three adjacent large houses covering a stretch of over 30 meters in Strait Street and the restoration works on the 18 meter-long facade of the fi ve storey-high Kerreja Build- ing in St Paul's Street. Valletta keeps proving that no matter how many years go by, with its history, culture and heritage, the city will always rise above, evolve and fi nd a way to conquer its earned majesty. Bringing Malta's capital city back to life When walking through Valletta's streets there's a sense of warmth, renewed pride, appreciation, even a sentiment of admiration for all those before us who have built, lived and given the city the prestige it always held

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