10-storey hotel to replace Msida old people’s home

A new planning application has been presented to transform the Marina Palace elderly home fronting sixth form bus stop into a 10-storey high four-star hotel.

The hotel is being proposed in close proximity to a recently approved six-meter-high pedestrian bridge linking the two popular bus stops on either side of the busy road.

The application foresees the demolition of the existing building and excavation to approximately one metre below existing street level.

The proposed 4-star hotel will include an indoor swimming pool and breakfast area at basement level; a reception and lounge at ground floor level, a spa, gym and cafeteria at mezzanine level and 120 guest rooms on the overlying eight levels. A restaurant and bar will be situated on the tenth floor. An outdoor swimming pool is also being proposed at roof level.

Previously the same site was earmarked for an old people’s home on nine floors and storage at basement level. As proposed the development was also to include six shops on its ground floor. The application presented by Emanuel Farrugia was later withdrawn, with the latest application being presented by Ivan Cachia’s Garzes-A Limited.

The area is already heavily urbanised and characterised by high buildings but a sizeable hotel in the area is expected to put further pressure on the Kullegg bus stop, which is heavily used by Junior College students and other commuters transiting to Birkirkara-bound routes.

Massive roadworks are currently underway in the area as part of the Msida Creek Project, which also includes landscaped areas, a square in front of the church and a 600m-long canal.