Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1536259
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 JUNE 2025 NEWS A six-storey development in Qormi pro- posed by Silvan Fenech, a director of Tum Invest, has been recommended for approval despite exceeding local height limits. The case officer cited the creation of a public piazza around a vernacular farmhouse as justification for allowing the scheme to exceed the established height parameters. The Planning Commission will take a final decision tomorrow, 12 June. The development will rise to a height of 20.45 metres and include three base- ment levels for garages and commercial spaces, including two cafeterias and 10 shops. It will also have six floors of res- idential units, with the topmost floor compensating for the ground-level open space. The complex will contain a total of 115 residential units. The 3,784sq.m site is located on the western edge of Ħal Qormi, bordered by Triq il-Ħelsien, Triq ix-Xitwa and Triq in-Nahal. The site is currently undeveloped, featuring several citrus and ficus trees, along with a vernacu- lar building dating from before 1968, which will be relocated elsewhere on the site. The farmhouse, which possibly dates to the late 18th or early 19th century and includes vernacular structures, will be restored. Initially, the developer had proposed retaining the vernacular building in its original position, outside the building alignment. However, concerns over road safe- ty and visual impact led the Planning Authority and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH) to recom- mend its careful dismantling and re- construction within the building line. The SCH has requested bank guaran- tees of €12,000 for the dismantling and relocation, and €2,300 for restoration works. The project includes a public square surrounding the reconstructed farm- house, with integrated food and bever- age establishment. These commercial elements will front the street, while the inner part of the square is designed to remain more tranquil for residents. The case officer described this as an opportunity to provide "a liveable en- vironment" that prioritises pedestri- an connectivity and social interaction over a conventional full-mass develop- ment. Although the scheme breaches the local height limit of 17.5 metres, the Development Management Directo- rate concluded that the project still respects statutory street façade levels. The lost gross floor area resulting from the creation of the pjazza is being com- pensated through an additional reced- ed upper floor, pushing the total height to 20.45 metres. A Visual Impact Assessment conclud- ed that the proposal would significant- ly alter close-range views, as the site is currently largely undeveloped. The assessment suggested a redesign could mitigate the visual impact by adjusting scale and massing to better match the surrounding townscape. However, this redesign option was not adopted. The case officer's report justifies this decision on the grounds that the site's full development poten- tial would have allowed a more mas- sive block, and that the positive urban design outcome – including the piaz- za and farmhouse integration – out- weighs the identified visual impacts. As a result, the SCH accepted the restoration and works method state- ments in principle, while the Environ- ment and Resources Authority (ERA) noted that most trees will be uproot- ed and transplanted elsewhere, except for three, which will be retained. No Traffic Noise Impact Assessment was required. The scheme also complies with policy G17 of the Development Control De- sign Policy, which allows flexibility for developments on corner sites that en- hance urban legibility and open space. The building's materials will include white render, unpainted globigeri- na stone for boundary planters, dark bronze wrought iron railings, and white aluminium apertures, in line with policy requirements. The case officer concluded that the proposal offers a net public gain through improved urban design, in- creased open space, and the integra- tion of vernacular architecture. PA recommends Qormi development despite height limit breach A six-storey mixed-use development in Qormi has been recommended for approval despite breaching local height limits, with developers citing the inclusion of a public piazza and the restoration of a historic farmhouse as justification JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Existing views and photomontages showing proposed development from two different angles