FAA accuses architects of hiding heritage value of properties in PA applications

Some architects were hiding the heritage value of properties when submitting redevelopment applications to the Planning Authority, as developers insisted on demolishing iconic buildings to replace them with apartment blocks, Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar said on Thursday.

FAA said that a prestigious mid-19th century two-storey townhouse in Cathedral Street, Sliema, was the next to be earmarked for redevelopment.

“The stately home is laden with irreplaceable features of historic and architectural value, amongst them a stone-sculpted coat of arms, an elaborately detailed stone staircase, a barrel-vaulted well (extending beneath neighbouring properties) and an ornate niche at the far end of its mature back garden,” FAA said in a statement.

It questioned why none of these invaluable features were shown in the photos submitted to the PA as part of the application. “Such an abusive attempt by certain architects to hide the heritage value of these properties in unacceptable.”

FAA said this development would result in the immediate loss of this distinguished building and would also threaten the integrity and character of the entire row of historic townhouses it formed part of, since its demolition will set a precedent for their inevitable destruction.

The situation would be further aggravated by the resultant destruction of the few remaining mature gardens serving as green open spaces in this over-developed area.

The application for a six-storey development was completely in excess of the permissible height set according to existing policies that compelled all development in protected village cores to respect the proportions, scale and design of the surroundings, further limiting any additional floors to the prevailing heights set by existing buildings.

“This imposing development fails on all accounts,” FAA said. “These properties have retained the illustrious character that once embodied Sliema and have thus been rightly recognised by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage as being worthy of protection.”

FAA said that, in light of the PA’s Environment and Planning Review Tribunal’s recent approval of an application to demolish a landmark traditional 19th century townhouse in St Julian’s – reversing three previous decisions – the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage should issue an emergency conservation to protect this historic building.

It urged the public to speak out about similar cases of destruction of heritage taking place in Malta’s and Gozo’s towns and villages and called on the PA and the Superintendent to stop allowing the destruction of all that truly made Malta great.