Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1483181
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 NOVEMBER 2022 NEWS NEWS No Paceville at Ghar id- Dud, Sliema mayor says Plans for the Chalet development will be assessed according to a development brief approved 20 years ago which offers a variety of uses for the area including a dance hall, a health and fitness club, cafés and a restaurant JAMES DEBONO PLANS to redevelop the site of the Chalet in Għar id-Dud, Sliema should not include night clubs, Sliema Mayor John Pillow has said. Pillow told MaltaToday it is "too early to comment" when contacted about a request for proposals published by gov- ernment on Monday seeking the participation of the private sector to redevelop the iconic Chalet. Pillow committed the coun- cil to full consultation with residents once more concrete plans for the area are submit- ted. However, the mayor still drew a major red line for any pro- posed development, insisting the project "should not include night clubs" which would turn the area "into another Pace- ville". Pillow also confirmed that so far, no consultation has taken place with the council with re- gards to the redevelopment of the site. A request for proposals was issued by Malta Strategic Part- nership Projects Ltd, a gov- ernment entity, seeking inter- ested bidders to redevelop the concrete platform presently jutting into the sea along the Ghar id-Dud promenade, in to a "superior quality catering and entertainment establishment." The site will be offered on a 65-year concession to the pri- vate sector and bidders will have to invest a minimum ini- tial capital of €3.2 million and subsequent partial investments of €1.4 million every seven years during the concession term. According to the govern- ment's privatisation unit, pro- posals have to fall within the parameters of the Chalet De- velopment Brief approved un- der a PN administration, 20 years ago, which offers a wide range of uses for development in the area. What does the 2002 brief allow on the Chalet site? The development brief ap- proved in 2002 following a public consultation carried out 23 years ago, limits the height of the new building to 3.3 me- tres from the level of the prom- enade and to 30% the footprint of the existing footprint at promenade level. The brief is very generic when it comes to the nature of facil- ities which can be allowed on the site, but specifies that the proposed facilities should be "primarily entertainment and recreational in character". The examples mentioned in the brief include indoor and outdoor cafes, restaurant, bar, a dance-floor area, a health and fitness centre, a sauna/health club and other "water related uses". Excluded by the brief are "ex- tensive retail or commercial outlets." The brief foresees "a balanced and sustainable land- use mix" and warns developers not "to overdevelop the site beyond its capacity". Existing views of the sea from along the promenade "must not be inter- rupted and the current vista to the Fortizza from the junction of Tower Road and Qui-Si-Sa- na must be retained. According to the brief the redevelopment on the former Chalet footprint should be a "distinctive building demon- strating excellence in archi- tectural design" which serves "as a main landmark along the Sliema promenade." The brief foresees the use of "modern