Corinthia submits plans for luxury resort, residences at former Ħal Ferħ site

Corinthia Hotels has submitted plans to build a low-lying tourist and residential complex on the site occupied by the disused Ħal Ferħ Holiday Complex, the company said.

The development, which has been branded as Corinthia Oasis, will comprise a 5-star hotel with 162 rooms and 25 hotel-serviced residences. The proposed resort and residences will rise to one and two storeys.

The area in Għajn Tuffieħa was re-zoned last year to allow the company to include residences in its development plans.

Corinthia Oasis will be a luxury tourist and residential resort on the former Ħal Ferħ complex in Għajn Tuffieħa (Photomontage provided by Corinthia)

Talks between the Lands Authority and Corinthia over the compensation due by the company as a result of the partial change in use are ongoing, a company spokesperson told MaltaToday.

“The talks with the Lands Authority to determine the enhancement value are ongoing but Corinthia still chose to present its planning application. The manner in which the enhancement value is determined is outlined in the deed for the site” the spokesperson said.

The company presented photomontages of the proposed development designed by architect Martin Xuereb. Corinthia said the design “will pay homage to traditional Maltese architecture interpreted in a contemporary style”.

The company added: “Corinthia intends to ensure that the project is a showcase for best practices in sustainability and environmental sensitivity.”

The Corinthia Oasis will be spread over 83,000sq.m and buildings will rise to a maximum of two storeys (Photomontage provided by Corinthia)

The 83,000sq.m site was a military camp for the UK forces in Malta, and in the 1970s was acquired by Air Malta and turned into a tourist complex.

The resort was eventually shut down and taken over by government. It was privatised in 2009 to Island Hotels Group that acquired a permit to develop a time-share resort. The development never took place.

The site was subject to a development brief, which set strict parameters with regard to the permissible redevelopment on the site, including limiting the building footprint to 20% of the area, and not allowing for more than two storeys.

Eventually, Corinthia took over Island Hotels in 2015 and triggered a clause in the contract asking for a revision of the development brief.

The brief was updated last year through a parliamentary resolution to allow for a partial change in land use, permitting Corinthia to include 25 residences in its plans, whilst retaining tourism as the principal use.

Corinthia Chairman Alfred Pisani said: “We are very excited about this new resort. We will create a world class product that matches all that we are doing as a brand globally in the luxury sector. We are aiming at setting a new benchmark for the island. As we emerge from the most challenging period ever faced by our industry worldwide, our investment reaffirms Corinthia’s strong commitment and belief in Malta, our home country.”

The proposed plans include a 125-space underground carpark. The company is also financing a 320-space public carpark on an adjacent tract of disturbed land operated by the Malta Scouts Association.

The company said that on completion, the project is envisaged to create over 200 new full-time jobs.