Stately Mrabat Street home earmarked for Bilom’s hotel

The Bilom Group has applied to restore and convert the scheduled building The Cloisters on Mrabat Street, into a boutique hotel and restaurant.  

The project would involve the construction of three new floors above the scheduled building along Mrabat Road. Plans submitted to the Planning Authority foresee apartment blocks encroaching on the gardens behind the protected building.

The terraced development, which reaches up to six storeys, will front Triq Bonaventura and Triq is-Sorijiet, near the Convent of the Sacred Heart.

Architect's renditions of the redevelopment of the Mrabat Street home The Cloisters.

Architect's renditions of the redevelopment of the Mrabat Street home The Cloisters.

The application seeks to establish the building envelope over the 1,640 square metre site which includes a very large garden.

The building enjoys grade 2 protection, which precludes demolition but allows alterations and additions which respect the architectural context and integrity of the building.

But the gardens do not enjoy any protection.  

The Planning Authority had even approved a swimming pool on part of the gardens in 2001.

The boutique hotel would house 38 rooms while a number of 2- and 3-bedroom apartments are proposed in the rest of the development. The project will include a parking area with 24 garages. 

Plans for the extra storey at the front of the building and the six-storey apartment block at the back of the house

Established in 1985 as a neighbourhood construction company, Bilom Group, owned by Michael and Gilbert Bugeja, emerged over the last years of existence as one of the leaders in the real estate market.

In a sign that the group was expanding, a new subsidiary called Bilom High Rise Limited was set up in June.

The company owned by Michael Bugeja includes shareholding by Darren Desira, who presented the application for the Mrabat development on behalf of Bilom Group.