Din l-Art Helwa welcomes university at Cospicua, rejects Zonqor development

Environmental organisation Din l-Art Helwa has expressed mixed feelings over the siting of the ‘American University of Malta’ project, welcoming its partial housing at Dock 1 in Cospicua but condemning development at Zonqor Point.

“Dock 1 is crying out for restoration,” DLH said in a statement. “The sensitive re-use and conservation of historic buildings is certainly the way forward as a means of preserving the unique architecture of the country and limiting the uptake of land and open spaces.”  

The final project, announced by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Thursday, will incorporate 31,000 square metres at Zonqor Point- 18,000 square metres of which will be land at outside development zones, 80% less ODZ than the original plan.

The Zonqor site will include student dormitories and three faculties, with the buildings rising to a maximum height of five storeys, half of what is permissible under the floor-to-area ratio policy, while the foreshore will remain untouched. 

The government will also build a new water polo pitch along the Marsaskala shoreline to replace the former national pool which will be demolished for use by the university.

Muscat has said that the “compromise” on the university location at Zonqor Point was “one in favour of common sense”.  

However, Din l-Art Helwa criticised the government for “encroaching on an ODZ area, when it should be the one to lead by example”.

They also warned that the re-location of the water polo pitch along the Marsaskala foreshore will encroach on the present swimming zone, and said that the proposal must be studied to ensure the least possible impact on the area.