Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1496383
8 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 APRIL 2023 THE owners of Westin Dragonara Hotel have presented plans for the construction of 145 serviced apartments over 12 floors on the carpark behind the historical en- trenchment wall. The plans presented by Pen- insula Holdings Ltd also foresee the dismantling and relocation of a historical arch which are being objected to by the Superintend- ence for Cultural Heritage. The serviced apartments are being proposed under a hotel classification, thus enabling the developers to rise higher than the four-storey limitation permitted in the local plan. This is because a policy regulating hotel heights approved in 2014 permits such developments to rise above local plan limits. Serviced apartments are increas- ingly being proposed in major development projects including the Jerma site (259 serviced apart- ments) and the Villa Rosa project in St George's Bay (789 serviced apartments). A substantial part of the 8,800sq.m site had been zoned for a four-storey residential develop- ment in the 2006 local plan. But subsequently the local plan was changed to enable mixed com- mercial development in the area. The local plan allowed for 33% of the site to be used for offices, 55% for a hotel, 10% for residential use, and 2% for food and beverage es- tablishments. But in 2022 the PA once again re-zoned the area to integrate it in the "entertainment priority area" which permits an even wider range of allowable uses including restaurants, bars, hos- tels, retail, supermarkets, dance halls and clubs. Plans which have been submit- ted to the Planning Authority foresee the dismantlement, resto- ration and re-erection in a differ- ent position of a historical gate on the seaward side. But the proposed relocation of the Grade One monument has been deemed objectionable in principle by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage which is insisting that the gate is to be re- tained in its present position and "respectfully integrated in the pro- posed development". The SCH is also insisting on the introduction of a landscaped buff- er between the proposed develop- ment and the entrenchment wall "to preserve a degree of legibility of this historic feature." The Su- perintendence has also asked for photomontages of the proposed development from both the sea- ward and landward sides. The Environment and Resourc- es Authority has also expressed concern that the interventions proposed which include a large pool excavated in the middle of the site, will encroach onto the ex- isting natural land and coastline. ERA is insisting that the proposed development should be limited to the existing committed parking footprint. Westin development: Superintendence objects to relocation of historical arch 145 serviced apartments over 12 f loors proposed on Dragonara car park site Plans presented by Peninsula Holdings Ltd foresee the dismantling and relocation of a historical arch THE development of an obstacle course on agricultural land in Ta' Qali is set for refusal after a case officer concluded it breach- es the zone's action plan. The agricultural plot measur- ing 29,830sq.m was eyed by its owners for an afforested obsta- cle racecourse. The project is the brainchild of Mad Fitness Limited, a company which is co- owned by developer Darren De- sira and Michael Bugeja of the Bilom Group. MaltaToday is informed that the area is still being tilled by farmers who have been offered money to vacate the land. The developers are proposing the planting of 836 trees, in- cluding 154 Cypress trees and 114 Sandara Gums, with under- ground reservoirs to water them. More than 7,400sq.m were to be covered by beaten earth for the obstacle course, and a fur- ther 3,100sq.m for the outside gym and fitness centre, and 418sq.m of hard paving for the entrance. Changing rooms and showers, sanitary facilities and an information centre with out- side tables near the entrance are included in the project. But the Ta' Qali Action Plan designates this site for agricul- ture and horticulture were only buildings, structures and uses essential to the needs of agricul- ture can be permitted and only if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Au- thority that such development will not adversely affect water supply, the soil, and the sur- rounding area of high landscape value. The case officer also contends that the proposed development runs counter to the Strategic Plan for Environment and De- velopment because the proposal is not considered as necessary within the rural area, does not sustain agriculture and results in a negative impact on the area. The Planning Authority has re- ceived more than 400 objections to the development including one from Moviment Graffitti which objected to the take up of agricultural land. A final deci- sion is expected on 28 April. Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) is a sports activity where athletes run through a variety of different obstacles, in races inspired by military training methods to test physical and mental endurance. Courses may also include climb- ing over walls or up ropes, mon- key bars, carrying heavy objects, and traversing bodies of water or mud, or crawling under wire or netting. Case officer shoots down 30,000sq.m obstacle course in Ta' Qali