Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/534048
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 JUNE 2015 8 News JAMES DEBONO THE maximum building height for the former military barracks that had recently housed the Holiday Inn in Sliema – now proposed for a 40-storey hotel tower – should be retained at the existing four floors according to the develop- ment brief approved by MEPA in 2006. But the latest development pro- posal envisions the retention of the historical building's façade and the construction of a 40-storey tower on top of it. The development brief is still legally valid and any changes to it have to be approved after amend- ments are issued for public consul- tation. The height limitation in the Tigné area was introduced "in order to conserve the ex-military barracks building", the brief reads. According to the approved brief, the existing ex-military barracks building "is to be retained due to its historical and architectural im- portance", but internal alterations are allowed. "This building will act as a buffer between new higher development on the site and the surrounding residential blocks. No additional floors are to be allowed over this landmark building," the brief says. The same brief paved the way for a 16-storey development on an ad- jacent site. MEPA later approved a 20-storey development on condition that it does not surpass the height of a 16-storey development, made possible by reducing the height of each storey. The barracks were the last re- maining ex-military barracks building in Tigné. It was designed and built in the early 1900s, and therefore together with Fort Cam- bridge offers a valuable link with the past British period. "Apart from its historical impor- tance, it also significantly contrib- utes to the character, identity and local distinctiveness of the area," the Fort Cambridge brief read. On the other hand the eastern hotel block was an addition made in the early 1980s with no conser- vation importance. The historical building has a fa- cade with a series of colonnades and arches. The building also has a characteristic and interesting sheltered, quadrangular, inter- nal courtyard following the same style. Originally the building was con- structed on two floors. Additional floors were added at a later stage, replicating the same architectural style and features of the previous levels. Apart from these interven- tions, substantial internal altera- tions were carried out in order to render the building suitable for hotel use. GAP Holdings director Paul At- tard last week confirmed that the Malta Tourism Authority had giv- en the firm the green light to apply with MEPA to build a 40-storey hotel. But the MTA will require further information, details and MEPA permits prior to the final approval. The application submitted to MEPA is for the erection of a 5-s- tar hotel having 368 rooms. "At present we are dealing with various renowned management chains," Attard told MaltaToday. He described the proposed hotel "as the first of its kind in Malta be- ing a city hotel, more business ori- entated and not the resort type". He also said that the hotel will create 300 new jobs. According to Attard the shape of the building was developed fol- lowing various designs and studies with the scope to create a pleas- ant massing to the high rise as an "iconic building". CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 It was im- mediately made clear that Malta had no issue with Sweden but it had a pending matter with Skan- ska. Skanska, a private company, is one of Sweden's major construc- tion companies. "The government delivered the message that it wanted to avoid years of litigation and reach an agreement with Skanska to cov- er the damages," a government spokesman told MaltaToday. As Löfvén was given a generic overview of the report drawn up by UK engineering firm Arup, and the report of the independent inquiry held into the matter, the Swedish Prime Minister was told that a €30 million bill was high by Malta's levels. The 2009 project closure agree- ment on the hospital was also brought up, with Malta insisting that this did not clear Skanska of any liabilities arising from suspect- ed fraud – a criminal activity that under Maltese legislation would nullify the agreement. Nonetheless, the project closure agreement will prove to be a hard nut to crack as correspondence dating from 2011 already showed that Skanska had successfully cited the waiver to avoid paying €200,000 to repair faulty reservoirs at Mater Dei Hospital. The communication resulted after the Foundation for Medical Services wrote to Skanska Malta Joint Venture (SMJV) to inform them that it would be withholding an outstanding €200,000 to cover the cost of repairs for faulty res- ervoirs, which became necessary because of the use of low-grade concrete, whose strength was re- corded at 20MPa (megapascals) instead of 30MPa. The Swedish delegation appeared to be particularly interested in the project closure agreement and sev- eral questions were posed with the aim of better understanding what it meant. Malta agreed to pass on the rel- evant documentation. "What interests them is their country's reputation," the spokes- man said when asked how Sweden could help with a private matter. Other issues pertaining to the summit, including migration, were discussed during the bilateral meeting. Swedish PM told €30 million repairs 'too high by Malta's level' %5($.7,0( )520(;&$9$7,21$1' '(02/,7,21:25.6 ȋȌǡ ȋȌϐ ϐ ȋͳͷ͵Ͳ ʹͲͳͷȌǡ Ǥ ǤǤǤǤ ʹʹͻʹͲͺȋϐȌͻͻ͵ͷͲͺ ȋϐȌǤ Ǥ 0,1,675<)2575$163257$1',1)5$6758&785( %8,/',1*5(*8/$7,212)),&( Fort Cambridge brief does not allow high-rise GAP Holdings' proposed 40-storey tower where a Mepa development brief allows only four floors