Massive 24-block ‘Maltese village’ proposed for Naxxar trade fair

The owners of the former trade fair grounds in Naxxar are seeking planning permission for a massive 24 residential and office blocks, which will include two eight-storey towers.

Despite the local plan policy limiting development in Naxxar to a maximum of five storeys, the proposal includes two eight-storey tower blocks and five six-storey blocks.

The rest of the development will include two five-storey blocks, seven four-storey blocks, four three-storey blocks, and four two-storey blocks.

The project has been modelled as "Maltese village" by its architect Ray Demicoli, who in the past worked on the Portomaso marina complex, and includes a supermarket, a retail centre and a local centre on the westernmost part of the site.

The project includes green areas, a square, a childcare centre, and underground parking.

The project would require new link roads from Triq San Pawl and Triq il-Markiz Scicluna, and a pedestrian link to Triq Santa Lucija.

A low-lying boutique hotel and a number of one-storey villas, will occupy the easternmost area which is closest to Palazzo Parisio, the stately home that is run by the heirs of the Marquis John Scicluna - Christiane Ramsay Pergola and Marcus Marshall - who presented the application.

For decades, Scicluna's grounds hosted the annual trade fair before the corporation that organised it dissolved and moved the fair to Ta' Qali. The local plan approved in 2006 states that in the event that the trade fair activity ceases in the area, the area can be redeveloped for "high quality" residential development. The policy stipulates that a local centre must be also developed on the westernmost part of the site.

The policy excludes "over-sized monolithic or high building blocks" and that the development should consist "of small built volumes with inter-connected, well landscaped terraces and passageways that will, in time, soften the mass of the blocks".

The local plan stipulates a height limitation of four floors above the level of any proposed route.

But MEPA will also consider five-storey buildings in the northwestern part of the site, only if this is required in order to retain a total developable residential floor space of 116,250 sqm.

A penthouse level shall be permitted above roof level of these buildings, provided that this will not impinge on important views and vistas into and out of the Naxxar urban conservation area.