Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1517228
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2024 NEWS over 20,400sq.m of Manoel Island house with gym, swimming pool, padel courts and another catering establishment. There will also be an upgrad- ing of main vehicular streets, the formation of public open spaces including a 10,000sq.m "indigenous garden" and the recreation of the historic Bo- vile street which follows the route taken by cattle to quar- antine, as well as the creation of a marina promenade and other landscaped areas includ- ing part of the original quay wall. Development endorsed by case officer and heritage watchdog The case officer recommend- ing approval acknowledges the increase in the proposed gross floor area of the residential apartments as a positive con- tribution to the whole project, in terms of less nuisance and traffic. As proposed in the lat- est plans, an average of 3,878 car trips will be generated every day. The plans were welcomed by the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage in view of the improvements made to the context of architectural assets. Photomontages suggest the visual impact of the project re- mains largely the same as the 2017 proposal, despite the high impact on seven viewpoints from the Strand and the Coun- cil of Europe garden and Ta' Xbiex yacht marina. For the first time the visual studies include photomontag- es showing aerial views of the project, which confirm the massive scale of the project. Despite the endorsement by the SCH, nearly 300 people have formally objected to the latest plans due to the impact on views and the reduction of public open spaces. A widely-shared objection initiated by Moviment Graf- fitti warns that construction works for the project "will on- ly wreak further havoc on the already overconstructed Mar- samxett harbour region" and be "a slap in the face to the community". The case officer is recom- mending the imposition of a €1.6 million planning gain to- wards the Planning Authority's Planning Fund for environ- mental projects in Gzira. Photomontages showing existing view and how project will look from Council of Europe Garden Photomontages showing existing view and how project will look from Gzira promenade