ITS site development ‘excessive and will worsen Paceville situation,’ Din l-Art Ħelwa says

Din l-Art Ħelwa has expressed alarm at the way the government is handling the Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS) site in St George’s Bay, saying that the scale and intensity of development is excessive for the site and the area, and will only worsen the parking problem in Paceville.

Last week, the government formally sealed a €60 million deal for the transfer of land at St George’s Bay occupied by ITS, to Seaport Franchising, the company owned by hotelier Silvio Debono of DB Hotels.

Din l-Art Ħelwa argued that the government’s commitment pre-empted the planning process, making it difficult for the Planning Authority to seek improvements to the proposed development

"By signing the agreement with the developers, the government has committed itself to the development as proposed, without taking into account urban planning considerations," the environment NGO said. 

“It also pre-empts the Planning Authority's revision of the Paceville masterplan," it added.

Din l-Art Ħelwa lamented over the fact that the then-Malta Environment and Planning Authority failed to prepare a development brief and issue it with the tender and to hold a public consultation. It also claimed that the tender was issued without reference to the Local Plan.

“The lack of a development brief is evidenced by the many weaknesses that are immediately apparent.  The scale and intensity of development is excessive for the site and the area.  There evidently was no consideration how the buildings will impact the immediate surroundings.  There is a lack of public open space within the site. Furthermore, the development does not appear to conform to Local Plan policies. The British barrack blocks, scheduled at Grade 2, will also be demolished,” Din l-Art Ħelwa said, as it listed a number of what it considers shortcomings in the proposed developments.

Din l-Art Ħelwa also pointed to the parking and traffic problems in the area, predicting it to get worse as a result of the development. “Instead of using the site to ease some of the parking pressures on Paceville, the government will be allowing a development that will make the Paceville parking situation many times worse.”

Din l-Art Ħelwa called the government’s attitude towards urban planning “unacceptable”, and said that “this is reflected in the process that led to last week’s signing of the agreement in the presence of the Prime Minister.”  

Din l-Art Ħelwa urged the government to allow the planning process to take its course, without interference.

It also called for the government to allow the Planning Authority to evaluate planning applications in terms of current policy until the Paceville masterplan was finalised. 

“There is no economic argument that supports the use of public assets in this manner,” Din l-Art Ħelwa said.