Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1131709
NEWS 8 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 JUNE 2019 JAMES DEBONO CONSTRUCTION company Tum Invest are proposing a large scale development along a new road created between Telghet Birkirkara and Triq Sant Elija within St Julian's ur- ban conservation area (UCA). As proposed the develop- ment would include 700 sqm of underground commer- cial space, a car park set on two basement levels and 68 new residential rising up to 5 floors. Building heights in this area are limited by local plan policies to 3 floors. Most of the adjacent buildings also conform to this height. The local plan also states clearly major traffic generat- ing uses should not "be en- couraged in the UCA." The development will also involve the demolition of an old house located along Telghet Birkirkara. The Su- perintendence for Cultural Heritage had objected to its demolition in 2017 when the PA was considering a previ- ous application presented by Hugh Peralta, which had envisaged a similar devel- opment. On that occasion the Planning Authority had deemed the proposed 5-sto- rey development as being in breach of the local plan. Moreover the development was rejected because" internal residential developments"i.e. development located in open spaces or gardens behind ex- isting facades is not allowed within UCAs. This explains why developers are now pro- posing a new street. Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ah- jar is objecting to the proposal warning that its approval will result in the ruin of this still intact and well-preserved ur- ban conservation area against all policies that aim to ensure the safeguarding and preser- vation of such street typolo- gies forming a strong part of Malta's heritage. "The development as pro- posed will result in over 700sqm of commercial space and 68 new residential units all crammed in this UCA site, clearly resulting in extensive increased development density and intensity of traffic, as such clearly in excess of what can be considered for this site". 68 apartments proposed in St Julian's Urban Conservation Area The old house proposed for demolition JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority is set to refuse a five-storey development in the imme- diate vicinity of the Tal-Kaptan tower in Qrendi, on land that was added to the development zone in the contro- versial extension of building zones in 2006. In a report issued by the Planning Directorate, the case officer deemed the proposed development "dwarf- ing" the historical features as "inap- propriate". The case officer insisted that a buff- er zone was required to protect the tower and its garden from intruding development, adding that the his- torical monument should remain the highest building in the immediate area. The PA's Executive Council will take a final decision on the zoning application presented by the owners of the site on 2 July. The case officer also lamented the lack of public open space provided by the applicant. According to the re- port a minimum of 1,043 sq.m out of the 6,954 sq.m land parcel should be dedicated as public open space. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had objected to the develop- ment of the historic garden and to the demolition of a girna to make way for the proposed buildings. The Qrendi local council had ob- jected to the development, describing the lack of open spaces, coupled with the high building heights proposed as "totally out of character with the liv- ing village concept the Qrendi Local Council is working hard to protect and promote for Qrendi". PA set to turn down Qrendi project dwarfing Tal- Kaptan tower Photomontages presented by developer showing development along new road and when viewed from Triq Sant Elija and Telghet Birkirkara