Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1478174
8 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 7 SEPTEMBER 2022 Superintendence drops objection to hotel and cabanas in historical garden JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage has dropped its objections to a new three-sto- rey extension to an existing Palazzo, a swimming pool and 13 cabanas in the gardens of Villa Buleben in Zebbug. The proposal made by de- veloper Daniel Bonnici also foresees the restoration of the existing palazzo, garden, chap- el and surrounding boundary walls. Villa Buleben is known in the area as Tal-Baruni. The cultural heritage watch- dog has described the latest plans as a considerable im- provement over earlier plans which included "excessive ex- cavation works" within the gardens and underneath the palazzo. These have now been elimi- nated with the SCH finding the new proposal not objectionable in principle. But while giving its bless- ing for the outline application which sets the parameters for the project, several details like the "design, volumes and mass- ing, and number of the pro- posed cabanas" will have to be discussed at a full development stage, the SCH said. Two years ago, the SCH had strongly objected to the initial plans. The heritage watchdog had also described extensions pro- posed in the gardens as "exces- sive, overpowering and totally incongruous with the historic Villa Buleben". Significantly the SCH had al- so recommended increasing the level of protection of Villa Buleben and its gardens from Grade 2 to Grade 1, a step which would preclude much of the proposed development. This is because while Grade 2 scheduling leaves room for limited development around the building, development is not normally allowed next to Grade 1 monuments. The Environment and Re- sources Authority has also en- dorsed the latest plans while requesting more details on the protected trees which would be impacted by the project. But while the SCH and ERA have warmed up to the latest plans, residents are not im- pressed and more than 1,000 objections have been presented against the development. Res- idents contend that the new plans remain incongruous with the historical set up. Over the past year the Su- perintendence has dropped a number of objections to major development projects like the Excelsior hotel extension, the addition of extra floors on his- torical buildings in Sliema and St Julians and the Zebbug de- velopment. This change of heart often fol- lowed engagement with devel- opers in the revisions to plans. But sources within the cultural watchdog have expressed con- cern that this is resulting in situations where developments which are objectionable in principle are rendered accept- able by putting some lipstick on a pig's face. Photomontage of development proposed in historical garden which has been endorsed by Superintendence for Cultural Heritage