Naxxar hotel in St Lucy neighbourhood could gobble up garden and open space

The development of a five-storey block will be on open space adjacent to the villa’s garden along Triq Hal Dghej

The application foresees the construction of a new residential block on adjoining vacant land which will include 25 basement garages, three ground-floor maisonettes, nine apartments on three overlying floors and two penthouses
The application foresees the construction of a new residential block on adjoining vacant land which will include 25 basement garages, three ground-floor maisonettes, nine apartments on three overlying floors and two penthouses

The proposed restoration of Villa Chetcuti in Naxxar’s St Lucy Street, could come at a price: the development of a five-storey block on open space adjacent to the villa’s garden along Triq Hal Dghejf.

The development will see the excavation of the present tree-filled garden to make way for a basement car park, but the applicant is also promising to reinstate the garden at a later stage. A substantial part of the present garden will be occupied by a pool area.

The application foresees the restoration of the villa’s façade and the demolition of additions not forming part of the original structure, which will be replaced by additional guest rooms and ancillary facilities.

The facade of the Grand Home on St Lucy Street (right), which opens into a massive garden stretching right to the Hal Dghejf street in Naxxar
The facade of the Grand Home on St Lucy Street (right), which opens into a massive garden stretching right to the Hal Dghejf street in Naxxar

While no additional storeys are foreseen on the villa fronting St Lucy Street, the application also foresees the construction of a new residential block on adjoining vacant land which will include 25 basement garages, three ground-floor maisonettes, nine apartments on three overlying floors and two penthouses.

The footprint of the basement garages will extend beneath the villa’s garden which will be excavated to cater for required parking spaces of proposed guest house.

The garden itself will be reinstated but the new development also foresees the construction of a pool in this area.