Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518643
9 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 APRIL 2024 Vacancy Jobsplus Permit no. 361/2024 For more info visit micas.art/get-involved or contact people@micas.art micas.art Closing at noon Monday 22 nd April 2024 Gardener between Rue D'Argens and Rudolph Street, the junction between Rue D'Argens and Reggie Miller Street, and the junction be- tween Rue D'Argens and St Albert Street will be congested in 2033. Moreover, although the situation is less critical at the junction between Rue D'Ar- gens and Viani and Belvedere Streets, this is also likely to be affected by queuing because of the overall situation. The new development itself is expected to generate an average of 168 car trips on weekdays. At peak hours the office hub will see 47 cars entering the site between 8am and 9am and 37 cars leaving between 5pm and 6pm. The trip generation of the proposed office hub is more manageable than the num- ber of trips which would be generated by a residential development in the same site especially when considering that the area is well served by public transport and that the offices will not be operational during week- ends. But the case officer is still calling for the implementation of a green travel plan meant to reduce the impact of traffic gen- erated by the development. Emergency ride service foreseen in green travel plan The plan submitted by the project's pro- ponents includes 26 measures. Although ambitious in its scope the plan will be financed by a paltry annual financial contribution of €5,000 by the owners. One of the measures being proposed is the provision of a "guaranteed emergency ride home service for office workers." In this way the owners will be offering to finance or part-finance a trip home in the event of a family emergency or unforeseen problems like occasions when the car share driver needs to leave early. The measure is being proposed in view of surveys showing that one of the greatest impediments for a modal shift from private car use to alternative modes of transport is concern about arriving home in time in case of an emergency. The provision of modern changing facil- ities with showers and lockers is also being proposed as a way of encouraging walking and cycling. A car sharing database is also being pro- posed to help put potential car sharers with matching work schedules in contact with each other. The data base will be adminis- trated by an appointed Green Travel Plan coordinator. And to further encourage and promote car sharing, several car parking bays will be reserved for car sharers only. The plan aims at a 10% reduction in sin- gle occupant car use over a five-year period, and a 1% per annum drop thereafter. To ensure the implementation of the plan the case officer is recommending a permit condition stipulating that a monitoring re- port is submitted to Transport Malta and the Planning Authority one year from the issue of the final permits, and then every two years for the following four four years. If the targets and objectives in the plan are not achieved by the end of these four years the authority "may require a further period of monitoring and review" to be able to im- pose "further conditions". Development slated for approval The redevelopment project envisages the creation of a business centre and two food and beverage establishments located at the upper ground floor level. The pro- posal includes the restoration, with minor alterations, of the existing dilapidated Sa- voy building, and the demolition of later additions including the already decommis- sioned fuel station located on the southern part of the site. The plans submitted by Jean Marc Mon- tanaro, a director of Exalco Properties Ltd, envisage four basement parking levels, a cafeteria on ground floor level and six over- lying office floors. The former Savoy Hotel, initially owned by the Cuschieri family was originally con- ceived as a two-storey house named Villa West End which was already constructed before 1900. The use of the building as a hotel dates back to 1904. Since its early years it became an identify- ing landmark that gave its name to the area in which it is located known as Savoy Hill or it-Telgħa tas-Savoy. The hotel was closed in the mid-1980s when the building was also subjected to an arson attack. The Superintendence for Cultural Her- itage has approved the new design of the building. The Planning Board will be taking a final decision on the proposed development on 9 May. Hill facing gridlock by 2033 Savoy Hotel permit to come with green travel plan that includes proposals to encourage car-pooling and the provision of an emergency ride service