Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545062
39 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MAY 2026 NEWS kandidat fuq it-12-il distrett Franco Mercieca lealta | responsabbilta | determinazzjoni ' ' HEMM GĦALIK Heritage watchdog clears development in historic Qormi palazzo garden THE Superintendence of Cultur- al Heritage (SCH) has issued its clearance for a controversial de- velopment within the historic gar- den of a Knights' period palazzo in Qormi. The clearance means that new structures consisting of hotel rooms and 17 pools rising to a maximum of two storeys can be accommodated within the sensi- tive site. The planning application (PA/00472/25) presented by Na- desh Parnis' Pecunia European Properties Ltd, foresees the resto- ration of the palazzo and its trans- formation into a five-star level boutique establishment. In its latest assessment following a site inspection the SCH conclud- ed that the proposed works can proceed without undermining the site's cultural heritage, provided strict restoration and monitoring conditions are followed. The decision confirms that in- terventions within the palazzo will have a "very limited impact" on its historic fabric, while a "substantial portion" of the garden will be re- tained. The development concerns an 18th-century palazzo on Triq il-Kbira and its adjoining baroque garden, located within Qormi's Urban Conservation Area. Plans foresee the demolition of derelict structures in the gar- den and the construction of new buildings—restricted to two sto- reys—alongside alterations to the historic garden wall. The SCH raised no objection in principle to these changes, including the creation of a new door and the blocking of an existing window, provided traditional materials and designs are used, such as tim- ber apertures instead of PVC and stone in line with conservation guidelines. However, the project has been controversial since its early stages. As previously reported, the Plan- ning Authority had already issued an outline permit approving the project's massing, including the use of 44% of the existing garden. That permit effectively set the parameters for development be- fore detailed plans were assessed, creating a legal expectation that has constrained later deci- sion-making. The Qormi local council has been one of the most vocal ob- jectors. While supporting the res- toration of the palazzo itself, the council warned that the scale of the proposed boutique hotel is in- compatible with the historic set- ting and risks overwhelming both the building and its garden. It described the planned exten- sion as a threat to a "majestic gar- den" featuring ornamental ponds, colonnades, statues and centu- ries-old olive trees—elements it said were not fully acknowledged in the planning application. But the SCH has questioned the historical value of the garden, suggesting an early to mid-20th century dating. Moreover, aerial photos suggest that the central fountain together with the exist- ing pathways were constructed after 1942 while the concrete gar- den staircase was introduced in the 1950s. Environmental concerns have also been flagged, including po- tential risks to an existing water source and the wider precedent such development could set for encroachment into green spaces within protected urban areas. Despite these objections, the SCH maintained that the revised plans strike an acceptable balance between conservation and devel- opment. A final decision on the appli- cation is still pending before the Planning Authority. Reporting by James Debono