Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/800760
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 MARCH 2017 11 Analysis in the interest of good administration, the government had a moral obligation to re- fer the proposed concessions for the scru- tiny of Parliament". The Ombudsman's report proposed a number of recommendations to ensure greater parliamentary scrutiny of land deals. This intervention proved crucial in subsequent changes to the law, obliging the government to seek Parliament's con- sent before passing public land to private interests. A clause in the Portomaso permit of 1995 stated that no further extension or development could be carried out in an area designated as an ecological zone but this decision was reversed in 2014 through the issue of a permit for 46 new villas. Smart City The Ricasoli land – a vast industrial wasteland the size of 40 football grounds – was offered to Tecom Investments for a ground rent of Lm65,000 (€150,000) a year, increasing by 5% every five years. Instead of paying a premium on the land, the developers offered 9% of the company shares to the Maltese government. The deed was preceded by a masterplan and changes to the local plan tailor-made for the new development. The former industrial area was also in- cluded in development zones in 2006 prior to the land transfer. 119,000 square me- tres of floor-space (the size of 20 football grounds) were earmarked for real estate and commercial development which still has to take place. While supporting the in- vestment, the Labour opposition did criti- cise the financial aspect of the project. American University of Malta The land transferred to Sadeen Group through a parliamentary resolution com- prises 31,000 square metres at Żonqor Point in Marsascala, 18,000 square me- tres of which are outside the development zone. The rest of the campus will cover the area currently occupied by the former na- tional pool. The proposal does not include residential apartments but will include a dormitory, sports and catering facilities. No competitive call for expressions of in- terest was issued before the government handpicked the Jordanian developers for the project. The contract binds Sadeen to use the land for educational purposes. The com- pany did not pay a premium for the land. The project is the only major one involv- ing government land to include ODZ land. The Jordanian-owned Sadeen Group will lease public land for 99 years. Sadeen Edu- cation Investment will pay a ground rent that starts at €40,000 in the first year, in- creasing gradually every year for the dura- tion of the lease agreement. Sadeen's title will be of a temporary na- ture and may not be converted to a per- petual emphyteusis. ITS / City Centre project Development Brief: None Deviations from brief: No brief Competitive Tender: Yes, but only one company applied Direct payment to government: €15 million Land area: 24,000 m2 Number of apartments: 209 Other development allowed: Casino, retail and hotel Criticism from opposition: Mild to strong Criticism from civil society: Strong Pender Place and Mercury House Development Brief: Yes Deviations from brief in permit: Yes Competitive tender: Yes Direct payment to government: €25 million Land area: 18,000 m2 Number of apartments: 219 Other development allowed: Offices Criticism from opposition: Mild Criticism from civil society: Mild Fort Cambridge Development Brief: Yes Deviations from brief in permit: Yes Competitive Tender: Yes Direct payment to government: €54 million Land area: 29,225 m2 Number of apartments: 345 Other development allowed: Offices Criticism from opposition: Mild Criticism from civil society: Strong Tigné and Manoel Island Development Brief: Yes Deviations from brief in permit: Yes Competitive tender: Yes Direct payment to government: €59 million* Land area: 237,000 m2 Number of apartments: circa 500** Other development allowed: casino, retail, offices Criticism from opposition: None Criticism from civil society: Mild to Strong *figure excludes €32 million meant to be paid in kind **figure excludes proposed villas in Manoel island Portomaso Development Brief: No Deviations from brief in permit: No brief Competitive tender: No Direct payment to government: None Land Area: 38,750 m2 Number of apartments: circa 500 Other developments allowed: casino, retail, hotel, offices Criticism from opposition: None Criticism from civil society: Strong Smart City Development Brief: Yes Deviations from brief in permit: No Competitive tender: No Direct payment to government: None Land Area: 360,000 m2 Number of villas: 127 Other developments allowed: Offices Criticism from opposition: Mild Criticism from civil society: Mild American University of Malta Development Brief: No Deviations from brief in permit: No Brief Competitive tender: No Direct payment to government: None Land Area: 44,000 m2 Number of apartments allowed: Nil Criticism from opposition: Strong Criticism from civil society: Strong