Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1146457
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JULY 2019 JAMES DEBONO THE Farsons subsidiary Tri- dent Estates plc – the devel- oper of the Mriehel business park that will have seven five- storey blocks – has objected to a 19-storey high rise by the Fino Group, across the road in Mriehel. Fino is prospecting two tow- ers of 19- and 18-storeys, as well as an 11- and nine-storey block, and two three-storey buildings. The higher towers will be set on a platform on Triq San Gwakkin, therefore rising to 20 and 21 storeys, in an architectural design that will set them in the form of an upright boomerang. While the Farsons project aims to attract 1,500 office workers, Fino says its high-rise will provide offices for 8,000. Trident Estates CEO Charles Xuereb described Fino's pro- posed towers as "oversize and out of scale and definitely not compatible with the neigh- bourhood" and expressed con- cern that the Grade 2 sched- uled OId Brewhouse and the Portico, located just across the street, "will be dwarfed and overshadowed". He also claimed that the brewery would be hidden, completely shaded in the mornings, and its appearance would be "severely compro- mised by its juxtaposition with the incongruous bulk of the proposed high-rise from any other angle", apart from the towers' aerofoil shapes creat- ing "abnormal wind effects on the surroundings". Xuereb lambasted the project for not incorporating "a signif- icant and well-designed public open space", noting the pro- posed open spaces are "simply the left-over space on the roof of the podium, between the tower blocks." Xuereb also said the Fino project goes against existing policies limiting high-rise de- velopment to low-lying areas, broadly interpreted to be be- low the 25m contour. "The proposal is actually on a ridge on the 50m contour. Conse- quently, the towers will be visually prominent, with sig- nificant impacts on short and long-distance views." Farsons presented the sole objection to the project from the general public, in what could well be seen an indica- tion of the absence of local communities living next to the project. But in its preliminary assess- ment of the proposed high- rise, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage noted Fino project's impact in terms of overall heights and volumes along the Valletta-Mdina vis- ual link. To better assess its visual impact, the Superintenden ce has asked for photomontages of short-distance views which include Wignacourt Aqueduct and the Farsons brewery, and long-distance views from Val- letta and Mdina. The Farsons project was ap- proved in December 2017 after the presentation of a master- plan, which binds the compa- ny not to carry out piecemeal additions in the future. Previ- ously the PA had indicated its intention to refuse the project in the absence of a masterplan. The historical brewhouse will be restored and converted into a visitor centre experience, which will also include ancil- lary retail outlets. The seven five-storey blocks will be sur- rounded by extensive gardens over half of the site. an active quarry, and was con- sequently filled up and is now littered with debris or aban- doned vehicles, abandoned machinery or other bulky re- fuse. But the same report ac- knowledges that the site is within an agricultural zone which consists of "non-irri- gated agricultural land with some citrus, pomegranate and olive trees." The local plan itself envisag- es the rehabilitation of the ar- ea in which the petrol station is being proposed through "environmental management plans." But according to the pro- ject development statement, since the proposed site lies on a main thoroughfare "it definitely is not really part of the rural environment which these plans were intended to address in a positive manner". The Environment and Re- sources Authority has already objected to the development noting that there is "no valid justification for the further loss of undeveloped rural land" to accommodate the de- velopment of "a significantly enlarged fuel station beyond the development zone bound- ary". It also said the project will require an Environment Impact Assessment. NEWS Position may be co-funded through European Union Funding/Bilateral Funds SENIOR MANAGER (EU FUNDS) PROGRAMME MANAGER (EU FUNDS) Applications are invited for the positions of Senior Manager (EU Funds) and Programme Manager (EU Funds) in the Ministry for European Affairs and Equality. Applicants for the Senior Manager (EU Funds) position must be in possession of a recognised Masters qualification at MQF Level 7 in relevant areas plus three years relevant work experience. Applicants for the Programme Manager (EU Funds) position must be in possession of a recognized Masters qualification at MQF Level 7 in relevant areas plus one year relevant work experience or in possesion of a recognized Bachelors qualification at MQF Level 6 in relevant areas plus three years relevant work experience. Applications will be received at the Corporate Services Directorate, Ministry for European Affairs and Equality, 31B, Tal-Pilar, Marsamxett Road, Valletta, VLT 1850 by not later than noon of Friday 2 nd August 2019. Further details may be obtained from the Government Gazette of 19 th July 2019. Application forms may be downloaded from: https://publicservice.gov.mt/en/people/Pages/PeopleResourcingandCompliance/For msandTemplates.aspx Further details may be obtained from the Government Gazette of 30 th Superintendence concerned with impact on line of vision between Mdina and Valletta, calls for photomontages Farsons presents sole objection to Fino high-rise Fino is prospecting two towers of 19- and 18-storeys, as well as an 11- and nine-storey block, and two three-storey buildings. The higher towers will be set on a platform on Triq San Gwakkin, therefore rising to 20 and 21 storeys, in an architectural design that will set them in the form of an upright boomerang