Updated | PA turns down application for eight-floor Sliema hotel

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar had called on PA to follow recommendations of Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and not give green light for an eight-floor hotel to replace 1867 Sliema townhouse

FAA, residents against Sliema hotel proposal
FAA, residents against Sliema hotel proposal
FAA's Tara Cassar (third from left) with Joseph Camilleri
FAA's Tara Cassar (third from left) with Joseph Camilleri

The Planning Authority has turned down an application for replacing an 1867 Sliema town house with an eight-storey three-star hotel, pursuant to the recommendations of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH).

In its decision on Wednesday, the PA's Environment Planning Commission accepted the SCH's opinion that the development would negatively impact the area's cultural and historical heritage. The Malta Tourism Authority had also not granted a permit based on the application brief.

Various NGOs and resident had voiced their opposition to the proposed development in St Mary Street, insisting that the fact there were already a number of other high-rise building in the same road and area should not serve as an excuse to deny residents of their right to clean air and natural light.

The owner of the house had claimed that objections raised by Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) and residents were nothing but a hindrance and a conspiracy.

The owner, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he had lived in the same house for the past two years.

Owner insists house has no historic or cultural elements
Owner insists house has no historic or cultural elements

“I sold the house after noticing other development all around my house in the same street,” he told MaltaToday before today's decision was made public. “At any rate, the house was hardly habitable any longer and I decided to find somewhere else to live.”

Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar called a press conference on site on Tuesday and called on the Planning Authority to heed the recommendation of the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage (SCH), other eNGOs and the residents who were objecting to the proposed development.

“If this application is approved, the residents’ rights to clean air, natural light and refuge in their own homes will be ignored,” said Tara Cassar, for the FAA. “The historic elements of this 150-year-old townhouse are at risk of being lost forever.”

But the owner did not agree: “This is not a historic townhouse and it has nothing – inside or out – that is of any cultural heritage whatsoever.”

FAA said that the PA, which had been slated to decide on the case on 25 January, had given the applicant a month to amend the plans in line with the SCH’s reservations.

The original application (left) has now been replaced with one retaining house's facade (centre)
The original application (left) has now been replaced with one retaining house's facade (centre)

“All the applicant did was change the plans to retain the façade of the house, but not changing the additional six floors proposed to be built above it and the adjacent residence,” Cassar said.

Joseph Camilleri, owner of the house next door to the one earmarked for demolition, said he had nothing against his neighbour, but he was afraid of what the proposed development could mean for him and his wife.

“I am not angry at him [neighbour] for selling his house, good luck to him,” Camilleri told MaltaToday. “But I am worried at having an eight-floor hotel built above my residence, how the building works and new hotel would disrupt our quiet lives.”

He said the fact that there were already a couple of high buildings in the same street did not justify building more.

“If this application goes through, my wife and I will be living in a house wedged in between two tall buildings, with no air or natural light,” Camilleri said.

His wife Maureen said she was also extremely worried at what could happen to them, living beneath an eight-floor hotel, separated only by wooden beams and old stone slabs.