Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541244
12 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 NOVEMBER 2025 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 34-storey tower on Gzira site set for refusal A proposal to redevelop the Muscat Motors site in Gżira in- to a 34-storey mixed-use tower has been recommended for re- fusal by the Development Man- agement Directorate (DMD). The outline application, sub- mitted by Christopher Mizzi on behalf of Mizzi Estates Ltd, dates back to 2008. The devel- opers have repeatedly been re- quested to provide crucial stud- ies but these have never been submitted. The tower, designed by ar- chitect Edwin Mintoff, is a high-rise hybrid development including the retention and rehabilitation of the existing Grade 2 scheduled modernist building, excavation for two levels of underground parking, and the construction of a con- ventional block adjacent to the main tower. The proposed tower would be 34 floors. The scheme includes offices, a hotel, and residential units, alongside a public open space covering 50% of the de- velopable area. The Muscat Mo- tors site lies at the intersection of Triq d'Argens and Triq Luqa Briffa. The DMD's recommendation is based primarily on the failure of the applicant to submit essen- tial information, despite multi- ple requests over several years. The missing documentation included a junction capacity as- sessment for the traffic-sensitive area, a Visual Impact Assess- ment with photomontages re- quested by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, and other supporting studies necessary to assess the principle of the devel- opment. The directorate also noted er- rors in the Floor Area Ratio cal- culations, and that the scheme proposed a "virtual road" meas- uring just 6.37 metres, partly roofed over near the scheduled building. This fell short of the 10.36-metre minimum width required under FAR policy for streets in tall building develop- ments. With these gaps, the submis- sion remains at an "embryonic stage," preventing a full assess- ment of transport, environmen- tal, and heritage impacts. A final decision by the Plan- ning Board is expected on 27 November 2025 when the board will be also deciding on increas- ing the height of the db towers in Pembroke by seven and six floors. Application on Muscat Motors site dates back to 2008 but crucial studies demanded over the years have not been presented The Muscat Motors site in Gzira