Balluta Bay reclamation project for water polo club set for approval

The Planning Authority’s Development Management Directorate has recommended approval of a proposal to reclaim part of Balluta Bay for the redevelopment of the San Ġiljan Aquatic Sports Club.

The proposal, which will be decided by the Planning Board on Thursday, July 30, involves the reclamation of seabed to create new water polo and training pools, a deck area, technical facilities, changing rooms, a gym, committee rooms and other ancillary spaces.

Two restaurants at promenade and deck level are also included in the project. The current application follows a previous 2019 proposal that was withdrawn after ERA raised concerns over its environmental impact.

That scheme involved a reclamation footprint of 3,140 square metres and would have resulted in the obliteration of 1,089 square metres of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadow.

The revised proposal reduces the reclamation footprint to 2,230 square metres, cutting the affected seagrass area to 197 square metres — an approximately 80% reduction in the direct loss of Posidonia habitat, according to ERA.

The project still involves the construction of a 148 sq,m breakwater bullnose-shaped structure which will have the most major impact on sea grasses.

According to the case officer’s report, the revised design substantially reduces the impact on the protected marine habitat. ERA concluded that the changes had reduced the previous major environmental impact to a minor-to-moderate one and raised no objection, subject to environmental conditions.

However, ERA noted that the remaining reclamation would still affect seagrass through shading and scouring. It also warned that some changes to wave conditions identified in the earlier assessment would remain, although the smaller platform reduces the project’s visual impact.

The report notes that the commercial component of the project has been reduced compared with previous approvals. However, the overall complex would become significantly larger, mainly because of the expansion of the swimming pools, decking areas, technical areas and supporting infrastructure.

The new deck-level structure would include a much larger pool and circulation area, transforming the existing facility into a more extensive aquatic sports complex.

The proposed gross floor area would increase from around 2,069 square metres to 5,313 square metres. The case officer concluded that the project complies with coastal planning policies, maintains public access along the shoreline and should be approved subject to conditions.

The San Ġiljan Aquatic Sports Club was founded in 1949, then with the name Balluta Water Polo Club. The club won 14 Premier Division and 16 Knock Out titles in its history, the last being in 2025. It also won the 2026 Winter League.

The top-ranked club presently lacks a permanent pool structure, which can be used during adverse weather conditions, particularly when the sea is rough.