Nazzareno Vassallo ordered to pay €95,000

Construction magnate Nazzareno Vassallo was today ordered to pay just under €100,000 in a decision taken by MEPA's Environment and Planning review tribunal, for not providing ample parking space next to a new supermarket and convention hall he is building in Marsa.

The decision concerns the development of the area next to Arriva’s park and ride in Marsa, at the former Lowenbrau brewery premises.

MEPA stipulates that there should be a parking space for every 10 square metres. Vassallo’s development provided 194 parking spaces instead of 310

Consequently, Vassallo was ordered to pay €95,000 due to under-provision of parking spaces for the proposed development, even though originally Transport Malta deemed the 194 parking spaces "sufficient for the busiest shopping times."

The Qormi Local Council filed an appeal, saying the sum should be paid to the Urban Improvement Fund, which in turn is used by the council as compensation to be spent on regeneration projects.

The MEPA appeals board ruled in favour of the Qormi council and ordered Vassallo to pay €95,000.

Nationalist members of the Qormi council refused to approve the motion and abstained, saying the appeal was “politically motivated”.

Qormi mayor Rosianne Cutajar hailed this decision and said it was a “victory” for the local community.

“I stood strong on our position since the development permit was issued with various irregularities in the first place. The board's decision shows that no one is above the law. It's a victory because ultimately, it's residents who will benefit from the funds, which will be used for several projects,” Cutajar said.

Vassallo’s development includes a 2,095 square metres supermarket, a 1,768-square metre function hall, four retail outlets, and a parking area.

The construction magnate acquired the 21,000 square metres of land in Qormi formerly occupied by the Lowenbrau brewery in 2009. Originally, he had earmarked the area for a 20-storey business centre and retail areas instead of the factory.