Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531497
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 JANUARY 2025 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage is still objecting to the construction of a five-storey apartment block in Qrendi de- spite new plans that retain an old farmhouse. In its latest submission, the cul- tural heritage watchdog stated that the proposal "remains unac- ceptable from a cultural heritage perspective," while reiterating recommendations made in July. The SCH had previously warned that the development, that lies just outside the urban conservation area some 85 me- tres from the parish church, would result in blank party walls, which could only be mitigated by further similar developments. It warned this could lead to a negative domino effect on the Urban Conservation Area. Fur- thermore, the SCH recommend- ed that development towards the rear of the site, currently vacant land, should be downsized and terraced to ensure its massing does not have an overbearing impact on the UCA. Objectors argue that the mas- sive development will erode Qrendi's historical core through "an overbearing building that is entirely incongruent with its im- mediate surroundings and con- text." They also contend that the height limitations for the area, enshrined in the Local Plans, constitute maximum thresholds for development. All applica- tions, they argue, must be as- sessed in line with other policies, including the Development Con- trol Design Policy, which priori- tises a contextual approach. More than 500 objections have been submitted against the re- vised plans for the site that is op- posite the Helen Keller Resource Centre, between Triq il-Kurat Mizzi and Triq il-Konvoj. The developer is Darren Ciantar. While the original plans pro- posed the demolition of an ex- isting old farmhouse, the latest plans retain the building but add three receded floors on top of it. Moreover, while the façade of the old farmhouse is preserved, the application proposes interior modifications that would effec- tively transform it into an en- trance hall for two maisonettes. The application still includes the construction of 46 residen- tial units, comprising 30 apart- ments, eight penthouses, and eight maisonettes over five sto- reys, along with three levels of underground parking. Notably, 80% of the develop- ment would still take place on arable land surrounding the farmhouse. THE Planning Authority has ap- proved 53 dwellings and 106 ga- rages over three levels close to the Dingli cemetery on the road lead- ing from the village to the cliffs. The land, which includes a farm- house approved in 2002, had been added to the development zone in the rationalisation exercise con- ducted in 2006. The local plan designates the site for two storey developments. However, the area had been des- ignated as a residential area with a height of three floors (12.3 me- tres) in the zoning application ap- proved in 2022. Although now located within the development zone, the new block will overlook terraced fields, garigue and the coastal cliffs. The development proposed by Ciantar Properties Limited was approved by the Planning Com- mission in December after chang- es were made to ensure that the building design overlooking the ODZ is more fitting to the rural area. The façade facing the ODZ will be finished in exposed franka stone. The Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage which was initially objecting to the development also gave its clearance after the chang- es. More than 200 objections had been filed against this develop- ment. Superintendence still objecting to five- storey block in Qrendi 53 new dwellings approved near Dingli cemetery The Qrendi church lies just a few meters from the 19th century farmhouse pictured in the foreground (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) The 19th century farmhouse in Qrendi could be replaced by a five-storey block (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)