Peacock Gardens upgrade permit revoked

MEPA's appeals tribunal has revoked a permit for the upgrade of Peacock Gardens in Valletta, which includes a recreational area for children and the 'Valletta World Heritage City' interpretation centre.

The European Regional Development Fund project, costing €800,000 is partly financed by the European Union.

This is the latest twist in a three-year saga which has seen MEPA's review tribunal overturn two decisions taken by MEPA's  Environment and Planning Commission.

MEPA refused the first application for the embellishment of Peacock Gardens in 2011, as the proposed Belvedere structure would have obstructed views from across the harbour. On that occasion, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage insisted that any development should respect the original use of the site as a military battery designed as an open space and an observation point "free of visual obstruction".

Subsequently, architect Chris Briffa appealed the decision, which was overturned by the environment and planning review tribunal in November 2011, and a permit was issued.

But in the meantime, the Valletta council had reapplied for a new development permit using a different design and a different architect. This application, presented by architect Robert Musumeci, was approved by MEPA in August 2012.

But this decision was recently revoked by the same review tribunal following an appeal presented by the architect of first application, Chris Briffa.

Works had already started on the project before the permit was revoked.

When contacted, Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli replied that the council had now lodged an appeal.

Architect Chris Briffa insisted he took an interest in the second application because it was his  company which had originally won the tender for the project after conducting studies and presenting an informed proposal to the Valletta Local Council, on the basis of which the ERDF funding was obtained.

Later, Briffa's proposal was given the thumbs down by MEPA and the council proceeded with a second application.

Briffa's major objection to this application was enclosing the garden with a high wall, which would have blocked views of the harbour from Marsamxett Road.

Subsequently, this wall was replaced with a stainless steel gate which, according to Briffa, "completely jars with the character of the area".  In his appeal, Briffa argued that this change of plans was against regulations, as it was made at a very late stage by the EPC itself and made after MEPA had carried out its consultations with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage and other bodies.

This argument was upheld by the review tribunal, which revoked the second permit. This is the same tribunal which had previously overturned MEPA's decision against Briffa's proposal.