Works on €100 million Townsquare project in Sliema to start next month

Works on the controversial Sliema skyscraper to begin in the next weeks

Aerial view of luxury Townsquare project, Sliema
Aerial view of luxury Townsquare project, Sliema

Works on the €100 million Townsquare project in Sliema are set to begin in the coming weeks, following approval of the developers’ construction management plan, Townsquare Sliema Ltd.

The developers are to brief the Qui-Si-Sana Residents’ Association, as well as the Sliema local council on the project.

The architects' firm Martin Xuereb and Associates will be drawing up condition reports on neighbouring properties.

The project was opposed by residents and the Sliema local council.

The 12,000 sq.m site, owned by the developers for the past 60 years, is currently vacant other than Villa Drago, which the company will be restoring. The site was earmarked for development in the 2006 local plan and has formed part of the building scheme for over 25 years.

Exterior view of luxury Townscape project, Sliema
Exterior view of luxury Townscape project, Sliema

“Townsquare are fully aware that the construction phase of the project may cause a certain amount of inconvenience to residents but are going to great lengths to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible,” a spokesperson for the group said.

Efforts to ease the process include the hiring of “specifically selected contractors”, who “will not make use of pneumatic hammers”, which are the prime cause of noise, dust and vibration on a building site, during the excavation phase. Instead, they will work with “costlier machinery”, designed to “limit disturbances”.

The spokesman said the chosen equipment also includes “inbuilt water-spraying features to keep dust to an absolute minimum”, as well as “wheel-washing practices” for trucks on the site. Townsquare also emphasised that all machinery related to development, including cranes “will be located within the site perimeter”.

Townsquare said that “only 40%” of their footprint will be occupied by buildings, with the remainder “landscaped for public use and maintained by developers”. In this way, “the majority of neighbouring properties” will be able to “enjoy views onto what promises to be one of the largest urban soft-landscaped areas in Sliema”.

In addition, the project will make way for around 750 underground car spaces, “significantly increasing parking facilities in the area”, they said.

“We are totally committed to ensuring Townsquare becomes an iconic landmark for Sliema that will not only benefit its residents, retailers and office users, but also our neighbours and the business community,” the company said.

A project office in Tigne Street and a helpline for residents has been set up on 27896 034/ 21331 560, intending to pursue community initiatives for the benefit of the local community, once development is underway.