Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1538811
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 AUGUST 2025 NEWS 330-space car park planned beneath Bormla school playground A proposal to build a six-level underground car park with 334 spaces beneath an existing car park and school playground at Triq it-8 ta' Dicembru, Bormla, is set to be decided by the Plan- ning Authority on 12 September. The project, submitted by In- frastructure Malta, also includes the boring of a tunnel from the lowest parking level to the Mari- na at Xatt ir-Rizq, together with the construction of a water res- ervoir beneath the car park. The aim is to ease parking shortages in the area, improve pedestrian connectivity to the marina, and facilitate access to the Valletta ferry terminal near- by. The development would relo- cate all parking underground, freeing up the part of the street-level area currently being used as a carpark for around 40 cars, thus extending the school ground set to be finished in syn- thetic turf and enclosed by a se- curity fence. A case officer report endorsed by the Development and Man- agement Directorate is recom- mending approval of this pro- ject. According to a project descrip- tion report presented by Infra- structure Malta, the car park footprint will remain the same at around 1,986sq.m, but capac- ity will increase almost ninefold. More parking, more cars? While the report claimed that the project will alleviate present parking problems, it acknowl- edged that the car park will "en- courage visitors to the Bormla and Birgu marinas thus gener- ating more business in the ma- rinas." Moreover, commuters to Val- letta will be able to park their cars in this underground car- park and take the ferry from the Three Cities to Valletta. But no studies have been presented to assess the number of addition- al cars attracted by the new car park. The project drew only two objections, both from residents concerned that it might attract more cars to the area without first pedestrianizing existing roads. The NGO Din l-Art Helwa asked for more information to better assess the potential im- pact of this proposal on cultur- al heritage, given the extensive excavation and tunnelling be- ing proposed in this historically sensitive site. Heritage Authority clears works due to national importance The project will also involve tunnelling works within an Ur- ban Conservation Area and the Area of High Landscape Value linked to the Harbour fortifica- tions. The site also lies within the visual setting of a Grade 1 scheduled glacis. Excavation works will reach depths of up to 19.9m. The Superintendence of Cul- tural Heritage (SCH) noted ar- chaeological potential in the area and warned that findings could require design changes, but it did not object to the ap- plication due to its "national strategic importance". Surprisingly the SCH did not demand monitoring by an ap- proved archaeologist and the presentation of a works method statement as happens in most developments taking place in sensitive areas. The Environment and Re- sources Authority emphasized the need to integrate existing trees into the project but did not assess the air quality impacts of a development proposed be- neath a school playground. Transport Malta also raised no objection, on condition that part of the underground parking is allocated for park-and-ride services. The proposed car park access, ramp gradients, aisle widths, and clearances were found to comply with relevant planning policies and design standards. The Development Manage- ment Directorate concluded that the project preserves the open character of the site at ground level while relocating parking underground and en- hancing access to the Marina. The application will be con- sidered by the Planning Com- mission during its sitting on 12 September. Reporting by James Debono The project will also involve tunnelling works within an Urban Conservation Area and the Area of High Landscape Value linked to the Harbour fortifications