MEPA approves Lazzaretto development

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) Board earlier today granted a full development permit for the rehabilitation and re-use of the Lazzaretto complex at Manoel Island. The extensive restoration works together with the reinstatement of a second, intermediate floor to certain parts of the building will accommodate a number of residential units, office facilities, a casino and a car park.

MEPA said all the interventions are "acceptable and sensitive" to the cultural and historic values of this site. "Works will include the removal of a number of accretions that are of no architectural, historical or contextual significance. These interventions were mainly constructed in the post war period and are now in a very dilapidated state," MEPA said.

Government had waived the casino concession fee in return for the restoration of Fort Manoel. The approved works will include the development of 54 apartments occupying 9,718 square metres, 6,320 square metres of retail space, 2,868 square-metre casino and a 1,950 square-metre hostel. The project demands the demolition of parts of the building as well as rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction works.

Lazzeretto was developed on Manoel Island in Marsamxett harbour, for the isolation of passengers, animals and merchandise to avoid the introduction of epidemics on the Island. It  serveed as Malta's official quarantine hospital for over 250 years. In 1940, parts of Lazzaretto were converted into a submarine base/HQ.

The MEPA Board granted planning permission for the development of three new blocks, two residential and one office, as part of the Tigne Peninsula re-development project.

MEPA said an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) update was required during the processing of these two applications, given that the proposed new blocks, which will be constructed at the north end of the site, will alter the visual amenity from that studied in the original EIA. "There was no need for an EIA update on the social and air quality impact given that the volume of floorspace area remained the same as that studied and approved in the 1999 outline development permit."

The process of the EIA included a 4 week public consultation period however MEPA noted that it did not receive any comments related to the visual amenity.  "Other comments related to planning issues were all included in the final report. A traffic impact statement for the project had been carried out and approved in a previous application." 

The authority said the reconfiguration in volume and land-use of the proposed mixed development, for residential and commercial use, was agreed to, given the fact that the applicant incorporated the Garden Battery which was unearthed during excavation works and eliminated the proposed hotel from the project.

During the meeting, it was drawn to the MEPA Board's attention, that fresh plans were submitted by the applicant yesterday. MEPA said these plans were accepted given that they were only proposing a minor change, whereby a room marked as toilet facilities was changed into a laundry room for sanitary reasons. It said no structure changes were being proposed or altered.