Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1398811
9 NEWS maltatoday | maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 AUGUST 2021 JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence of Cultur- al Heritage is strongly objecting to a zoning application proposing a cul-de-sac to cater for massive residential development instead of a 3,400sq.mw cow farm along Triq Kottonera in Birgu in the vi- cinity of De La Salle college. The zoning application pro- posed by landowner John Bonavia foresees residential development of over 2,700 sq.m of land subdi- vided in to eight blocks consist- ing of a ground floor, four over- lying full floors and a penthouse level. Two basement garage levels are also being proposed. The site earmarked for the new development is located within the lines of fortification that de- fine the historic fortified city of Vittorioisa and is immediately adjacent to a tract of the sched- uled fortifications. The site is also within the Urban Conservation Area of Vittoriosa. The development of the cul de sac leading to the proposed resi- dential development will require the demolition of two early 20th century townhouses along Triq Cottoner. The residential development proposed would replace a large barn. The property also has with- in it a large number of sheds and animal pens of no cultural herit- age value. The Superintendence is object- ing to the proposed demolition of the two houses along Triq Cot- toner, noting that they are con- structed in traditional style and to traditional proportions, as well as being located within the Urban Conservation Area. The Superintendence also not- ed "the extreme intensity" of development as proposed by the Planning Control, which would result in extensive excavation and relatively massive volumes over a large area, far exceeding the dominant height set by the adjacent two-storey houses. The Superintendence declared its opposition to intensive de- velopment within these lines of fortifications, being more favour- able "to the preservation of open spaces and to the containment of heights and volumes" in this area. Transport Malta has issued its clearance for the proposed cul- de-sac as long as its use is re- stricted to pedestrians, with bol- lards placed at the junction with Triq Kottoner. The project's architects had originally claimed that the adja- cent De La Salle gate was not cur- rently in use but this claim was rebutted by the school. But TM concluded that there would be no safety issues as long as use of the cul-de-sac is restricted to pedes- trians and emergency and refuse vehicles. Five-storey apartments proposed instead of Birgu barn Superintendence concerned by "extreme intensity" of proposed development in the vicinity of fortifications