Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1525812
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 AUGUST 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt yWZ^^/KEK&/EdZ^d E''DEdK&WZK&^^/KE>^t/d,d,hd,KZ/dz &KZ/Ed'Z/dz/ED>d^^WKZd dŚĞƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJĨŽƌ/ŶƚĞŐƌŝƚLJŝŶDĂůƚĞƐĞ^ƉŽƌƚ;/D^ͿŝƐĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůƐŽŶĂ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĨŽƌƐĞƌǀŝĐĞŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽůĂƵŶĐŚĂŶĞǁƐĐŚĞŵĞƚŽĂƐƐŝƐƚƐƉŽƌƚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶƐŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌƐĞƚƚŝŶŐƵƉ͕ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŵƉůŝĂŶĐĞƐƵďŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŽƚŚŝƐĞĨĨĞĐƚ͕/D^ŝƐĐĂůůŝŶŐŽŶĂŶLJĞůŝŐŝďůĞƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůƐŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚŝŶďĞŝŶŐĞŶŐĂŐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ/D^ŽŶĂĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĨŽƌƐĞƌǀŝĐĞďĂƐŝƐ͘dŚĞĚƵƌĂƚŝŽŶŽĨƚŚŝƐĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚǁŝůůďĞĨŽƌĂ ƉĞƌŝŽĚŽĨϮϰŵŽŶƚŚƐ͘ dŚĞdžƉĞƌƚƐǁŝůůďĞĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚƚŽǁŽƌŬĨŽƌĂŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŚŽƵƌƐĂƐƌĞƋƵĞƐƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐǁĞĞŬĞŶĚƐĂŶĚƉƵďůŝĐŚŽůŝĚĂLJƐ͘ /ŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽďĞĞůŝŐŝďůĞ͕ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐĨŽƌƐƵĐŚĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƐŚĂůů͗ >ĞŐĂůĂŶĚZĞŐƵůĂƚŽƌLJƌĞůĂƚĞĚǁŽƌŬ͗ ϭ͘ Ϯ͘ Ğ ŝŶ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŵĂƐƚĞƌƐ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ƐƉŽƌƚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽƌƐƉŽƌƚůĂǁ;Y&ůĞǀĞůϳͿƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞDĂůƚĂ&ƵƌƚŚĞƌΘ ,ŝŐŚĞƌĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͬͬŵĨŚĞĂ͘ŵƚͬŽƌŚĂǀĞĨŝǀĞLJĞĂƌƐŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞǁŽƌŬŝŶŐŝŶƐƉŽƌƚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽƌƐƉŽƌƚůĂǁ͘ ϯ͘ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůƌĞůĂƚĞĚĂŶĚ&ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐǁŽƌŬ͗ ϭ͘ Ϯ͘ ĞŝŶƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ͘ ϯ͘ ůůĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐƐŚĂůůďĞƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚƚŽ͗ ϰ͘ Ğ ĂĐƋƵĂŝŶƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ƐƉŽƌƚ ůĞŐŝƐůĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƚŝŽŶĂůƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐŝŶƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƚŽƐƉŽƌƚ͖ ϱ͘ ,ĂǀĞƐŽƵŶĚŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞĂďŽƵƚŐŽŽĚŐŽǀĞƌŶĂŶĐĞƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌƐƉŽƌƚ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐƐƵĐŚĂƐŝƐƐƵĞƐƌĞůĂƚŝŶŐƚŽƐĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚŝŶŐ͕ĂŶƚŝͲĚŽƉŝŶŐ͕ŵĂƚĐŚͲĨŝdžŝŶŐĂŶĚ ŵŽŶĞLJůĂƵŶĚĞƌŝŶŐŝŶƐƉŽƌƚ͖ ϲ͘ ĞŝŶƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨĂĚƌŝǀŝŶŐůŝĐĞŶĐĞ͖ ϳ͘ ,ĂǀĞĂĐůĞĂŶĐŽŶĚƵĐƚ͖ ϴ͘ ĞƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚĂƐƐĞůĨͲĞŵƉůŽLJĞĚǁŝƚŚ:ŽďƐWůƵƐ͘ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐƐŚĂůůƐĞŶĚĂŶĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌǁŝƚŚĂƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ sŝƚĂĞ͕ĂŶĚĂƌĞĐĞŶƚƉŽůŝĐĞĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĐĞƌƚŝĨŝĐĂƚĞ͕ďLJŶŽƚůĂƚĞƌƚŚĂŶϵ ƚŚ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ϮϬϮϰ ĂƚŶŽŽŶƚŽ͗ŝŶĨŽ͘ĂŝŵƐΛĂŝŵƐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ŵƚ Central Business Centre, Level 2, Tarxien Road, Gudja, Malta yWZ^^/KEK&/EdZ^d E''DEdK&WZK&^^/KE>^t/d,d,hd,KZ/dz &KZ/Ed'Z/dz/ED>d^^WKZd dŚĞƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJĨŽƌ/ŶƚĞŐƌŝƚLJŝŶDĂůƚĞƐĞ^ƉŽƌƚ;/D^ͿŝƐĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůƐŽŶĂ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĨŽƌƐĞƌǀŝĐĞŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽůĂƵŶĐŚĂŶĞǁƐĐŚĞŵĞƚŽĂƐƐŝƐƚƐƉŽƌƚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶƐŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌƐĞƚƚŝŶŐƵƉ͕ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŵƉůŝĂŶĐĞƐƵďŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŽƚŚŝƐĞĨĨĞĐƚ͕/D^ŝƐĐĂůůŝŶŐŽŶĂŶLJĞůŝŐŝďůĞƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůƐŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚŝŶďĞŝŶŐĞŶŐĂŐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ/D^ŽŶĂĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĨŽƌƐĞƌǀŝĐĞďĂƐŝƐ͘dŚĞĚƵƌĂƚŝŽŶŽĨƚŚŝƐĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚǁŝůůďĞĨŽƌĂ ƉĞƌŝŽĚŽĨϮϰŵŽŶƚŚƐ͘ dŚĞdžƉĞƌƚƐǁŝůůďĞĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚƚŽǁŽƌŬĨŽƌĂŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŚŽƵƌƐĂƐƌĞƋƵĞƐƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐǁĞĞŬĞŶĚƐĂŶĚƉƵďůŝĐŚŽůŝĚĂLJƐ͘ /ŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽďĞĞůŝŐŝďůĞ͕ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐĨŽƌƐƵĐŚĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƐŚĂůů͗ >ĞŐĂůĂŶĚZĞŐƵůĂƚŽƌLJƌĞůĂƚĞĚǁŽƌŬ͗ ϭ͘ Ϯ͘ Ğ ŝŶ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŵĂƐƚĞƌƐ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ƐƉŽƌƚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽƌƐƉŽƌƚůĂǁ;Y&ůĞǀĞůϳͿƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞDĂůƚĂ&ƵƌƚŚĞƌΘ ,ŝŐŚĞƌĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͬͬŵĨŚĞĂ͘ŵƚͬŽƌŚĂǀĞĨŝǀĞLJĞĂƌƐŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞǁŽƌŬŝŶŐŝŶƐƉŽƌƚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽƌƐƉŽƌƚůĂǁ͘ ϯ͘ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůƌĞůĂƚĞĚĂŶĚ&ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐǁŽƌŬ͗ ϭ͘ Ϯ͘ ĞŝŶƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ͘ ϯ͘ ůůĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐƐŚĂůůďĞƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚƚŽ͗ ϰ͘ Ğ ĂĐƋƵĂŝŶƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ƐƉŽƌƚ ůĞŐŝƐůĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƚŝŽŶĂůƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐŝŶƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƚŽƐƉŽƌƚ͖ ϱ͘ ,ĂǀĞƐŽƵŶĚŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞĂďŽƵƚŐŽŽĚŐŽǀĞƌŶĂŶĐĞƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌƐƉŽƌƚ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐƐƵĐŚĂƐŝƐƐƵĞƐƌĞůĂƚŝŶŐƚŽƐĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚŝŶŐ͕ĂŶƚŝͲĚŽƉŝŶŐ͕ŵĂƚĐŚͲĨŝdžŝŶŐĂŶĚ ŵŽŶĞLJůĂƵŶĚĞƌŝŶŐŝŶƐƉŽƌƚ͖ ϲ͘ ĞŝŶƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨĂĚƌŝǀŝŶŐůŝĐĞŶĐĞ͖ ϳ͘ ,ĂǀĞĂĐůĞĂŶĐŽŶĚƵĐƚ͖ ϴ͘ ĞƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚĂƐƐĞůĨͲĞŵƉůŽLJĞĚǁŝƚŚ:ŽďƐWůƵƐ͘ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐƐŚĂůůƐĞŶĚĂŶĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌǁŝƚŚĂƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ sŝƚĂĞ͕ĂŶĚĂƌĞĐĞŶƚƉŽůŝĐĞĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĐĞƌƚŝĨŝĐĂƚĞ͕ďLJŶŽƚůĂƚĞƌƚŚĂŶϵ ƚŚ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ϮϬϮϰ ĂƚŶŽŽŶƚŽ͗ŝŶĨŽ͘ĂŝŵƐΛĂŝŵƐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ŵƚ Central Business Centre, Level 2, Tarxien Road, Gudja, Malta yWZ^^/KEK&/EdZ^d E''DEdK&WZK&^^/KE>^t/d,d,hd,KZ/dz &KZ/Ed'Z/dz/ED>d^^WKZd dŚĞƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJĨŽƌ/ŶƚĞŐƌŝƚLJŝŶDĂůƚĞƐĞ^ƉŽƌƚ;/D^ͿŝƐĞŶŐĂŐŝŶŐƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůƐŽŶĂ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĨŽƌƐĞƌǀŝĐĞŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽůĂƵŶĐŚĂŶĞǁƐĐŚĞŵĞƚŽĂƐƐŝƐƚƐƉŽƌƚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶƐŝŶ ƚŚĞŝƌƐĞƚƚŝŶŐƵƉ͕ƌĞŐŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŵƉůŝĂŶĐĞƐƵďŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ dŽƚŚŝƐĞĨĨĞĐƚ͕/D^ŝƐĐĂůůŝŶŐŽŶĂŶLJĞůŝŐŝďůĞƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůƐŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚŝŶďĞŝŶŐĞŶŐĂŐĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ/D^ŽŶĂĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚĨŽƌƐĞƌǀŝĐĞďĂƐŝƐ͘dŚĞĚƵƌĂƚŝŽŶŽĨƚŚŝƐĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚǁŝůůďĞĨŽƌĂ ƉĞƌŝŽĚŽĨϮϰŵŽŶƚŚƐ͘ dŚĞdžƉĞƌƚƐǁŝůůďĞĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚƚŽǁŽƌŬĨŽƌĂŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŚŽƵƌƐĂƐƌĞƋƵĞƐƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞ ƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐǁĞĞŬĞŶĚƐĂŶĚƉƵďůŝĐŚŽůŝĚĂLJƐ͘ /ŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽďĞĞůŝŐŝďůĞ͕ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐĨŽƌƐƵĐŚĞŶŐĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƐŚĂůů͗ >ĞŐĂůĂŶĚZĞŐƵůĂƚŽƌLJƌĞůĂƚĞĚǁŽƌŬ͗ ϭ͘ Ϯ͘ Ğ ŝŶ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ŵĂƐƚĞƌƐ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ŝŶ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ĂĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ƐƉŽƌƚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽƌƐƉŽƌƚůĂǁ;Y&ůĞǀĞůϳͿƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞDĂůƚĂ&ƵƌƚŚĞƌΘ ,ŝŐŚĞƌĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶƵƚŚŽƌŝƚLJŚƚƚƉƐ͗ͬͬŵĨŚĞĂ͘ŵƚͬŽƌŚĂǀĞĨŝǀĞLJĞĂƌƐŵŝŶŝŵƵŵ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞǁŽƌŬŝŶŐŝŶƐƉŽƌƚŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚŽƌƐƉŽƌƚůĂǁ͘ ϯ͘ &ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůƌĞůĂƚĞĚĂŶĚ&ŝŶĂŶĐŝĂůĂŶĂůLJƐŝƐǁŽƌŬ͗ ϭ͘ Ϯ͘ ĞŝŶƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨƚŚĞƋƵĂůŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ͘ ϯ͘ ůůĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐƐŚĂůůďĞƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚƚŽ͗ ϰ͘ Ğ ĂĐƋƵĂŝŶƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ƐƉŽƌƚ ůĞŐŝƐůĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƚŝŽŶĂůƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐŝŶƌĞůĂƚŝŽŶƚŽƐƉŽƌƚ͖ ϱ͘ ,ĂǀĞƐŽƵŶĚŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞĂďŽƵƚŐŽŽĚŐŽǀĞƌŶĂŶĐĞƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌƐƉŽƌƚ ĂƐƉĞĐƚƐƐƵĐŚĂƐŝƐƐƵĞƐƌĞůĂƚŝŶŐƚŽƐĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚŝŶŐ͕ĂŶƚŝͲĚŽƉŝŶŐ͕ŵĂƚĐŚͲĨŝdžŝŶŐĂŶĚ ŵŽŶĞLJůĂƵŶĚĞƌŝŶŐŝŶƐƉŽƌƚ͖ ϲ͘ ĞŝŶƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨĂĚƌŝǀŝŶŐůŝĐĞŶĐĞ͖ ϳ͘ ,ĂǀĞĂĐůĞĂŶĐŽŶĚƵĐƚ͖ ϴ͘ ĞƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚĂƐƐĞůĨͲĞŵƉůŽLJĞĚǁŝƚŚ:ŽďƐWůƵƐ͘ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞƐƐŚĂůůƐĞŶĚĂŶĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶŽĨŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌǁŝƚŚĂƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ sŝƚĂĞ͕ĂŶĚĂƌĞĐĞŶƚƉŽůŝĐĞĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĐĞƌƚŝĨŝĐĂƚĞ͕ďLJŶŽƚůĂƚĞƌƚŚĂŶϵ ƚŚ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͕ϮϬϮϰ ĂƚŶŽŽŶƚŽ͗ŝŶĨŽ͘ĂŝŵƐΛĂŝŵƐ͘ŽƌŐ͘ŵƚ Eight-storey block set for approval next to St Augustine College THE Planning Authority's direc- torate is recommending the ap- proval of an eight-storey block of 48 apartments proposed in- stead of the Sa Maison residen- tial home, and a neighbouring three-storey warehouse. The development, on which a decision is expected next Tues- day, is being proposed by Her- itage Holdings Ltd, a company owned by developer Dimitri Sturdza. The proposed development is being firmly objected to by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which insists the old building earmarked for dem- olition is of "evident cultural heritage interest" and should be retained and incorporated in the development. After reviewing photomon- tages of the development, the cultural heritage authority warned that "the impact of the proposed development will ex- acerbate the already consider- able impact" of other develop- ments in the area. But the project architect re- butted citing various other similar commitments which have been approved in the area in recent years. While the SCH is insisting that the development be scaled down and at least incorporate the façade of the old ware- house, the PA's case officer expressed agreement with the architect who insisted that apart from the age of these structures, there is nothing in the old warehouse "which has architectural value and is wor- thy of preservation." The architect asserts that it is because of this reason that this building was not sched- uled, whereas the neighbouring dwellings further along this al- ley were given a degree of pro- tection. The case officer in his report expressed agreement with the architect, concluding that "the existing façade does not hold any architectural features and qualities which are worth re- taining or which add value to the streetscape." Moreover, according to the case officer, the proposed de- velopment will "regenerate the site" and will result in an aes- thetic improvement over the present situation. The case officer's favourable recommendation flies in the face of objections by the rector of St Augustine College, whose basketball court and multi- purpose hall are located in the same alley just 27m from the proposed development, which will require the excavation of an underground carpark. "We will end up being en- veloped in a construction site being continuously exposed to noise… to the detriment of all students particularly 11-and 12-year-olds whose ground faces Borton Lane," school rec- tor Fr David Cortis had warned in an objection presented last year. He warned that the noise would have negative conse- quences on student health and education. "As a result of dem- olition works and the increased heights, we will continue being buried and continue losing air and space. Is this the quality of life we want to give our stu- dents and the people?" Cortis said in his strongly-worded ob- jection. Nearly 200 residents, teachers and parents of children attend- ing the college had filed objec- tions to the project. Visual render of development being proposed as submitted by developers