Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544021
18 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 MARCH 2026 NEWS SCH raises 'grave concern' over Sliema façade demolition THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage (SCH) has raised "grave concern" over a planning application (PA/00771/26) seek- ing to regularise the demolition of a historic façade of a building facing the strand in Sliema and revise the design of an approved hotel project with increased height and volume. "The Superintendence now notes with grave concern that these historically and archi- tecturally significant facades have been demolished and the current application seeks the sanctioning of this unauthor- ised demolition," the cultural watchdog said in a scathing assessment of the application presented by hotelier Carlo Stivala. The plans concern a corner building fronting Triq ix-Xatt and Triq San Vincenz. The site had previously been granted a permit in 2025 for a 15-storey hotel, based on plans showing that the majority of the existing 19th-century façades would be retained. The building, which formerly housed a Labour Party club, is situated along Triq San Vin- cenz, a street still character- ised by a row of traditional three-storey houses forming part of an Urban Conservation Area. The Superintendence had previously noted that the sur- rounding streetscape features buildings of traditional style and that any new development should maintain a sensitive transition into the area. At the time, the Superin- tendence had expressed strong reservations about the inter- nal demolition and the mass- ing of the new structure, but the permit was approved with conditions requiring the pres- ervation of the historic façades along both streets. Moreover, when the permit was approved no bank guar- antee was imposed to ensure that the façade was protected. The original permit was sub- sequently appealed with the Environment and Planning Re- view Tribunal ordering minor changes to minimise the im- pact on the Urban Conserva- tion Area. The current application pro- poses to regularise the unau- thorised demolition of the orig- inal façades and replace them with a modern design. The revised plans also propose two additional levels over the 2025 approval, bringing the hotel to 17 storeys, with a lightweight, demountable tent structure on an 18th level. Two basement levels are in- cluded: one for an indoor pool, sauna, and multipurpose hall, and another for parking up to ten cars. The application further intro- duces two ground-floor shops along Triq ix-Xatt and revises the overall layout of the hotel. In its assessment, the Super- intendence criticised the newly proposed design, noting the in- creased height and volumes are at odds with the surrounding streetscape and fail to provide a proper transition into the Ur- ban Conservation Area. It also described the proposed design as "inappropriate". The SCH warned that the proposal will not only "increase height and volume on a proper- ty that already far exceeds the adjacent properties", but would also set a benchmark "far high- er than the dominant height along the Waterfront". Particular attention was giv- en to the new façade along Triq San Vincenz. The Super- intendence urged that its low- er portion adopt a traditional style, with a solid-to-void ratio and floor heights reflecting the demolished structures. Such an approach, the authority said, would provide a more appro- priate integration into the his- toric street while mitigating the impact of the modern de- velopment. While objecting to the plans and design, the Superintend- ence acknowledged the irre- versible nature of the demoli- tion. It stated that it would not object to the eventual sanction- ing of the façade removal, pro- vided that adequate mitigation measures are implemented. Should the Planning Authori- ty approve the application, the Superintendence recommend- ed that any permit be issued as non-executable, requiring written clearance before works commence to ensure compli- ance with the Cultural Herit- age Act. Reporting by James Debono Above: Left to right, The building as it stood before the development began and the building after development had begun The building from Triq San Vincenz