Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1529157
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 NOVEMBER 2024 NEWS MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt The magic is on the way! from Monday 4/11 to 10/11 Big on Quality, Lidl on Price Even though every effort has been made to ensure adequate supplies, these items may sell out quickly. Prices do not include decorative material. Prices are valid save errors or omissions. 1kg = € 9.95 1. 99 2x 100g pack 1kg = € 14.27 9. 99 700g pack 1kg = € 26.62 5. 99 225g pack 1kg = € 8.48 3. 39 400g pack Magical Christmas from Monday 11 TH November Big on Quality, Lidl on Price Even though every effort has been made to ensure adequate supplies, these items may sell out quickly. Prices do not include decorative material. Prices are valid save errors or omissions. 1kg = € 9.32 6. 99 750g pack 1kg = € 17.32 3. 29 190g pack 1kg = € 5.56 1. 39 250g pack 1kg = € 13.27 1. 99 150g pack Gozo authority wants protection for terraced houses in government housing estates amid surge in flats GOZO'S terraced houses have seen a sharp decline in the last decade, leading to calls for the protection of such buildings that form part of government hous- ing estates. The proposal comes from the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA), which also highlighted the threat of losing the distinctive urban charac- teristics present on Malta's sis- ter island. In a recently published note, the authority said that the housing estates built between the late 1970s and early 1990s, have come to represent a sig- nificant part of Gozo's archi- tectural legacy and embody the island's charm as an island of villages. The authority's proposal is the result of deep concern sur- rounding the changing face of Gozo's urban landscape. The GRDA notes that while terraced houses currently make up a significant portion of Gozo's dwelling stock (38.1% in 2021), data from the Plan- ning Authority reveals that the number of approved apartment permits has surged. The figures show that apartments account- ed for around 26% of dwellings permits issued in Gozo in 2013. This number jumped to 59% in 2023. The GRDA is particularly fo- cused on protecting govern- ment housing estates, which comprise approximately 5% of Gozo's total development zone. The GRDA argues that these terraced houses hold architec- tural importance because they were built with an emphasis on proportionality and harmony. The authority's call to safe- guard the housing estates is backed by a 2022 court ruling that had revoked a permit for a five-story apartment block in Santa Luċija. Here, the court had deter- mined that the proposed de- velopment, situated in an area characterised by two-sto- rey terraced houses, violated guidance from the Develop- ment Control Design Policy, Guidance and Standards 2015 (DC15) and the Strategic Plan for Environment and Develop- ment, which both call for the protection of distinct urban areas. The houses, typically two sto- reys high, are characterised by limestone facades, masonry balconies, uniform facade pro- portions, and traditional Mal- tese architectural features. The GRDA notes that the design choices were not accidental, aiming to respect the existing village skylines and blend with the island's rural character. The GRDA's proposal seeks to designate these terraced house zones as distinct areas within the Gozo and Comino Local Plan, similar to the designation of Urban Conservation Areas. This would provide these are- as with greater protection and recognition as a unique build- ing typology. The authority underlined that protecting the government housing estates is crucial for preserving Gozo's unique ur- ban character and village iden- tity, ultimately benefiting both residents and the local econo- my. Terraced houses make up 38% of Gozo's housing stock but are fast being replaced by apartments