Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1140832
11.07.19 16 TOWNSCAPES CHARM, appeal, warmth, life... Until a few years ago, these words were used with a sense of nostalgia when related to Valletta. e city for a number of years had entered a vicious cycle whereby the lack of vision and dilapidation was causing many businesses and residents to move out and leaving an in- creasing number of abandoned properties in its wake. en, in the nick of time, a regenerating initiative was un- dertaken by various stakehold- ers, and their vision, courage and determination managed to start turning things around. Today, when walking through the city streets, you can feel that there is a renewed sense of pride; an expectation that the city is fast becoming a place where to live again and where culture, gastronomy, art, en- tertainment and hospitality converge turning Valletta into a destination. In line with the Government's strategy for Valletta, the Plan- ning Authority (PA) has been a key player in this project, as it has continuously promoted and supported the outstand- ing universal value of the City of Valletta based on integrity, authenticity, management and protection. The right development e PA had a duty to ensure that the right planning per- missions would be approved to help give Valletta the recog- nition it deserves, not only to stand above other localities in Malta but also to hold its own when compared to other capi- tal cities. To do this, Valletta's prestige, history and unique character needed to be allowed to flour- ish. Over these past years, the PA has approved the conversion of numerous delapitated Palazz- inos into uniques and charmful boutique hotels. To ensure that Valletta's in- habitants enjoy the rewards of living in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Authority has encouraged and permitted restoration works on stretches of building façades as well as of numerous shopfronts. Other projects that stand out are contributing towards this aim include the move of the Fine Arts Museum from Admi- ralty House in South Street to the Auberge d'Italie. Now known as MUŻA, it seeks to promote greater par- ticipation by the community through a story-based narra- tive of displays and related ob- jects. en, there is the Valletta De- sign Cluster, which will see the Old Abattoir (Il-Biċċerija) – one of Valletta's earliest build- ings – being turned into a com- munity space for cultural and creative practices. Expected to be completed by the end of this year, the venue will include an exhibition space, a conference room, co-working spaces, and spaces for artists in residence, among others. irdly is the extension and modernisation of the St John's Co-Cathedral Museum, which will finally allow nearly all of the priceless artefacts to be displayed adequately, including the world's largest set of Gobe- lin tapestries. Finally, the revival of Strait Street. In 2015, the PA adopted a new planning policy to ren- generate and give this 'unique' street a new lease of life. To- day, the year-round nightlife is attracting locals and visitors alike, while serving as a finan- cial injection to ensure its sur- vival. Helping Valletta residents Of course, Valletta does not exist in a bubble: it is not just somewhere people go for cul- ture, or shopping, or entertain- ment. e city is home to thou- sands and bettering their lives was one of the top priorities. One way the PA helped with this, while also preserving Val- letta's aesthetics, was through the Marsamxett Balcony Grant Scheme 2018. A collaboration with the Par- liamentary Secretary for EU funds and Social Dialogue, the €2 million balcony grant scheme for Marsamxett res- idents aimed to alleviate the financial cost of restoring and maintaining traditional balco- nies, especially those made out of timber, in order to encour- age their continued use. Over these past two years, close to a100 Valletta resi- dences benefitted from the €18 million PA's Irrestawra Darek scheme. e purpose of this scheme has been to assist in the regen- eration of Malta traditional vil- lage core areas whilst promote investment in the restoration, conservation and maintenance of Malta's built heritage. Moreover, the Authority is also funding three commu- nity projects in the city. One is the restoration of Centru Santu Rokku in Valletta. Once restored the center, which is an old palazzino in St Ursula Street will provide youth living in Valletta and the surround- ing areas a safe social space for them to receive the necessary skills and mentoring to cope with life's pressures. Another is the establishment of the Soup Kitchen which will be run by the Fransician Friars and lastly, the Authority is also funding restoration and main- tenance works to a number of pavements and pedestrian are- as in the residential parts of the city. Beautifying the city Valletta has always had a lot to offer, but there was a time when the city felt like it was de- caying. While the regenerative pro- jects mentioned above were among the many that helped the city's stellar revival, an up- lift of its streets and surround- ings was vital. e project that has, argu- ably, had the biggest impact on those visiting Valletta was the embellishment project of Triton Square, which not only complimented the new Par- liament building but saw the pedestrianisation of the whole area and the formalisation of the multitude of services that operated from there. is was further comple- mented by the paving and landscaping of the Valletta Ditch, which can be seen from the bridge that connects Triton Square to City Gate. The regeneration and con- servation of the covered mar- ket (is-Suq l-Antik tal-Belt) also formed part of the PA's over-all plan to do justice to Valletta's history and archi- tecture. And, today, it attracts nu- merous visitors and patrons through the services it offers in the heart of the capital. rough these projects, as well as others, Valletta has started its ascent back to its former glory, and the PA is proud and honoured to be part of this journey. How the Planning Authority helped in Valletta's revival Bringing back Valletta's magic