Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1495870
NEWS 7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 MARCH 2023 JAMES DEBONO THE proposed additional six floors over the standalone early-20th century Britannia Flats on Sliema's Tower Road, cannot be approved as it would be in breach of sanitary regulations, a Plan- ning Authority case officer has con- cluded. Britannia Flats is one of the few tra- ditional buildings untouched by the transformation of Tower Road in the 1980s and early 1990s, when tradition- al townhouses were knocked down to make way for eight-storey tower blocks. According to a case officer report, the proposed height on Trejqet Luzju is in breach of sanitary rules which lim- its heights of facades to not more than three times the width of a street that is 3m to 15m in width, But in an indication that the project may yet be approved – while recom- mending a refusal – the case officer not- ed that since the present 'outline' appli- cation is meant to set parameters for a future full development permit, further setbacks from the narrow street can still be introduced at a later stage. Moreover, the development was found to be in line with the height limitation of 8 floors with semi-basement, which is a maximum 35.5m height as approved by the 2015 design policy rules. Residents objecting to the devel- opment expressed concerned by the over-shadowing on neighbouring streets, mainly the narrow Triq Luzju, pointing out that the development will impinge upon the privacy of residents apart from being in breach of sanitary rules. In 2022, the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage objected to the develop- ment, deeming the extension to be in- compatible with the existing building. While not excluding new, modern sto- reys, the SCH insisted that the proposed extension should have the same "build- ing rhythm" of the existing building. But in June the SCH dropped its ob- jection following a 3D model presenta- tion of the development, reflecting changes to plans to step down the back of the building overlooking the Urban Conservation Area. The first new floor above the existing building was also re- designed on the seaward side to soften the transition from the existing tradi- tional building to the more contempo- rary additions. The Planning Authority is set to de- cide on the project on 21 April. 11-storey residential block proposed in Mellieha green enclave Six-storey addition to Britannia flats in sanitary breach JAMES DEBONO A planning application is proposing the uprooting of existing vegetation on a 2,165sq.m plot of green space in Mellieha to make way for an 11-floor development. The project will consist of 114 garages, 11 maisonettes, 59 apartments and two penthouses. The green enclave which includes several trees and shrubs is located on hilly terrain between Triq Tumbrell and Triq id-Denci and is surrounded by other residential blocks of varying heights. The top floors of the develop- ment will enjoy commanding views of Ghadira beach. Despite the presence of shrubs and trees, the area is zoned for residential develop- ment over three floors and a semi base- ment level in the local plan approved in 2006. This translates to a height of 17.5m according to existing policies which is re- spected in the submitted plans. Although the development is being pro- posed over 11 floors it will take advantage of the topography of the uphill site in a way that the residential block will rise to five floors above street levels. Residents who talked to this newspaper have expressed concern at the loss of an- other large green space in the area which they claim is frequented by hedgehogs. They have also expressed concern on the loss of soil cover which presently ab- sorbs rainwater. While recognising that the land in question is private and part of the development zone, residents hope that part of the area is retained as a public open space. The removal of trees and shrubs will still require clearance from the Environmen- tal and Resources Authority.