Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471309
9 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JUNE 2022 UNESCO objects to Iniala hotel's terrace development in Valletta Six-storey old people's home proposed along Birkirkara aqueduct JAMES DEBONO A six-storey high old people's home is being proposed in an area characterised by two-storey villas along the aqueduct in Mdina Road. The proposed development faces the residential street, Triq Bontadini in Birkirkara, and includes the excavation of four parking levels for 59 cars. The local plan imposes a height limita- tion of two floors and a semi basement in this area but a policy approved in 2017 allows an additional two floors on residential homes when this is deemed to respect the context of the area. Charlot Sultana who owns the site home is proposing the development of the retirement home set to be named for Saint Helen, the patron saint of Birkirkara. The site was previously used as a hotel originally called the Albatross hotel and later the Wignacourt hotel. In 2002, the Planning Authority had refused to issue a permit to another ap- plicant to change the hotel into a retire- ment home. Subsequently the PA had issued an outline permit setting parameters for residential development instead of the hotel which was never followed up by a full permit application. JAMES DEBONO A Valletta hotel's application to regularise a glazed enclosure on its terrace has raised eyebrows at the UN agency responsible for granting World Heritage status to the city. The owners of the Iniala Ho- tel have applied to regularise a "retractable glazed enclosure" on the property's terrace over- looking the scenic St Barbara Bastion. But in a meeting of UNES- CO's World Heritage Techni- cal Committee (WHTC) held on 2 June, it was decided that the UN agency will object to the application. The canopy structure which is used as a dining area was not part of the original permit of the hotel, which led to the res- toration of the building. The hotel was approved in 2016. The WHTC is responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, and has the final say on wheth- er a site or property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. It also examines reports on the state of conservation of World Heritage sites and asks parties to take action when properties are not being properly man- aged. It also decides on the inscrip- tion or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger. Valletta is considered a World Heritage site. The Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage is also strongly objecting to the unauthorised glazed enclosure, now pro- posed for sanctioning, "The Superintendence finds this to be completely unaccept- able and damaging to the cul- tural heritage values of Valletta and objects to this enclosure and to its proposed sanctioning in the strongest possible terms and urges the removal of this accretion". The application presented by hotelier, philanthropist and TV celebrity Mark Weingard has angered residents while the PA's advisory committee on design issues has expressed concern on the visual impact of the new structure in a UNES- CO World Heritage site and an Area of High Landscape Value The hotel replaced a mul- ti-faced residential building of historical and architectural val- ue, ranging from the Knights' Period at basement level, and subsequent British Period re- construction. The site is located between two streets, Triq Santa Bar- bara and Triq Lvant at Valletta. The restoration of the building included cleaning the stone façade, the removal of old paints and redundant metallic fixing and the replacement of deteriorated doors, windows and closed balconies by rep- licas manufactured following the same dimensions and de- sign of the existing ones.