Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1191190
NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 DECEMBER 2019 8 JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority has approved the conversion of Villa Chetcuti in Tad-Dghe- jf, Naxxar into a guesthouse which will also include a new, five-storey high apartment block consisting of 14 dwellings on adjacent land. The development, proposed by Matthew Gauci, will see the excavation of the present tree- filled garden to make way for a basement car park, but the applicant is also promising to reinstate the garden at a later stage. A substantial part of the pre- sent garden will be occupied by a pool area. The project located in Triq Santa Luċija and Triq Ħal Dgħejf was given the green light from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the PA's Design Advisory Commit- tee. Objectors said they could not understand the position of the Superintendence which on one hand described the garden as "historic", but at the same time did not object to the proposed development and construc- tion of garages underneath the garden, which would eliminate most of the soil and transform it into a deck area. The development will see the excavation of the present tree- filled garden to make way for a basement car park, but the applicant is also promising to reinstate the garden at a later stage. A substantial part of the present garden will be occupied by a pool area. While no additional storeys are foreseen on the villa front- ing St Lucy Street, the applica- tion also foresees the construc- tion of a new residential block on adjoining vacant land which will include 25 basement ga- rages, three ground-floor mai- sonettes, nine apartments on three overlying floors and two penthouses. The Planning Directorate rec- ommended the application's refusal because it ran counter to design guidelines. However, the applicant submitted fresh drawings to address this issue. Historic garden to be excavated for Naxxar hotel development JAMES DEBONO A proposed 10-storey hotel in Pietà adjacent to Giardino Zammitello will visually domi- nate views of the harbour town from Msida creek and Valletta, challenging the visual domi- nance of St Luke's hospital and blocking views from the near- by Villa Frere gardens, a visual impact assessment reveals. The project proposed by Landgate Limited, was revised following an outcry against the destruction of the histori- cal Zammitello garden, and consists of the demolition of the existing buildings, the ex- cavation and construction of a four-star hotel including pools and spa. The landscaped gardens, in- cluding the existing tower, domed exedra and main parts of the elevated walkway, will be retained and restored. But one of the gardens will still be obliterated to make way for the excavation of the car park while another elongated gar- den behind the domed exedra will also be destroyed. The project was recommend- ed for refusal by the Planning Authority's case officer but on 3 December, the PA's planning commission, chaired by Simon Saliba, decided to postpone a decision, which will be taken after a site inspection by the board. The development is being proposed in the immediate vicinity of the scheduled Villa Frere and gardens. The Zam- mitello gardens are being pro- posed for scheduling by the Superintendence and the cul- tural heritage advisory com- mittee. The heritage NGO Friends of Villa Frere insist that the pro- posed building height will still grossly overpower Villa Frere, all but blocking the last vistas from the villa's two main bel- vederes. The PA case officer objected to the development, insisting that it will impact on sensitive historic environments includ- ing the gardens of Villa Frere and St Luke's Hospital. Given the evident impact on views from and towards the gardens of Villa Frere, the Su- perintendence also objected to the mass and height of the pro- posed hotel. The late 18th century garden once belonged to Giuseppe Nicola Zammit, a man of let- ters and a judge who served in official posts under the Or- der of St John and the British. Knighted in 1818, he was ap- pointed in various prominent positions by governor Thomas Maitland. Upon his death Maitland also commissioned a grand monu- ment commemorating Zam- mit, which is found in the Up- per Barrakka Gardens. Fate of Pietà garden views hinges on board inspection