Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1270964
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JULY 2020 NEWS Expression of Interest The Asset Recovery Bureau (Malta) is inviting interesting parties to submit their offers for the: Valuation of Immovable Property Documents pertaining to this EOI can be downloaded from www.assetrecovery.gov.mt Interested parties are to submit their proposals together with any relevant documentation, as indicated in the Expression of Interest, on finadmin.arb@gov.mt by not later than Friday 31 st July 2020 at noon. Xaghra caves threatened by illegal excavations JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cultural Heritage has expressed "grave con- cern" on an application to regularize illegal excavations for a four-storey hotel on Xaghra's Marsalforn road, controversially approved outside development zones in 2018. The hotel is being constructed in close proximity to a number of an- cient cave structures and will have a considerable visual impact on its surroundings. The watchdog said the excavations had already exceed- ed those approved two years earlier. "The illegally excavated area extends far closer to caves identified dur- ing the assessment of the applica- tion and may in fact have truncated parts of them," the Superintendence warned, noting that the caves may have archaeological potential due to the possibility of "prehistoric habita- tion". And the illegal excavation within metres of features of archaeological potential was "objectionable in prin- ciple". The Environment and Resources Authority is also objecting, recalling that the original permit was granted by the Planning Authority despite concerns of urban sprawl beyond the rural hamlet's boundary, adversely affecting the ridge edge. ERA is now concerned that the latest application will result in the outward encroachment of the built footprint towards the valley, with the addition of another two base- ment levels and a new access from the back part of the site. The additional basement levels are also expected to increase the new hotel's visual impact on the valley view according to the PA's design advisory committee which assesses the visual impact of new develop- ments. The regularisation of the exca- vations would allow the hotel two extra basement levels for an indoor pool and gym, and a 27-slot car park not foreseen in the original permit. Plans comparing today's plans with the 58-room hotel approved in 2018 clearly show the hotel will be occu- pying a larger footprint. The hotel overlooks the valley between Marsalforn and Xaghra. Although partly located in a rural hamlet, its footprint will extend into the neighbouring countryside. The site presently consists of an aban- doned agricultural farmhouse with a 220sq.m footprint and adjoining agricultural fields. Hotels are not mentioned among the types of development allowed in rural hamlets in the Gozo local plan. The only tourist development envis- aged in these areas are hostels. The development will also include two swimming pools outside the boundaries of the hamlet, and an ad- jacent three-storey terraced house. The Superintendence for Cultur- al Heritage had previously drawn attention to the presence of caves along the overhanging rock falling immediately outside the site foot- print proposed for development, as well as beneath the site's footprint. The development is being pro- posed by developer Alfred Refalo and will be managed by Frankie Spi- teri, who also manages the Quaint Hotel chain in Gozo.