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maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 OCTOBER 2026
NEWS
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Church-owned elderly home Casa
Leone seeks second floor
PLANS have been submitted
to extend and upgrade Casa
Leone XIII in St Julian's, in-
cluding the construction of an
additional second floor.
The application (PA6764/26)
also proposes alterations and
extensions at ground and first-
floor levels of the existing el-
derly care home, together with
designated service areas and a
new electrical substation.
The project follows a land-
mark 50-year agreement be-
tween the Archdiocese of Mal-
ta and CPHCL, the majority
shareholder of the Corinthia
Group, for the redevelop-
ment and management of the
Church-owned home.
The approximately 8,000sq.m
complex is to be modernised
and its bed capacity increased,
while remaining under Church
ownership.
The project involves a build-
ing with considerable histor-
ical significance. The core of
Casa Leone XIII dates to 1900,
when it was inaugurated as a
convent and hospital for the
Sisters of the Little Company
of Mary, known as the Blue
Sisters. But the building is not
scheduled.
The complex was established
for nursing and care and sub-
sequently developed into an
elderly home.
Back in 2020 in its reaction to
a previous minor application
the Superintendence for Cul-
tural Heritage had noted the
architecture value of the prop-
erty, and was recommending
that the building should be
granted Grade 2 protection.
But the building was never
scheduled.
Moreover, a policy approved
in 2017 still allows two ad-
ditional floors on Grade 2
buildings provided that the
resultant design is in keeping
with the urban context and no
blank walls are created.
Reporting by James Debono
Casa Leone XIII in St Julian's
