Paltry penalty for Sliema naval clinic demolition

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has imposed a paltry €2,300 fine when sanctioning the illegal internal demolition of the naval clinic in Sliema.

The naval clinic, a military hospital dating back to the nineteenth century, was a Grade 2 scheduled building.

MEPA regularised the internal demolition of the building when approving an eight-storey development over and above the historical façade, which had survived the demolition.

The case illustrates the weakness of existing legislation with regard to applications presented before 2012 to sanction illegalities on listed buildings. 

According to MEPA spokespersons, the fine imposed was the maximum envisaged by law. This is because the higher penalties included in a legal notice introduced in 2012 could not be adopted “since the application was validated much earlier than the date of coming into force of the latter legal notice”.

In fact the application dates back to 2004.

The case officer report reveals that the Planning Directorate had initially proposed a €116,387 fine.  

Prior to the approval of the permit the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee had opposed the sanctioning of the demolition, lamenting the “lack of information indicating what previously existed on the site”.

The case officer indicates that “in order to find a solution” and following consultation with the Integrated Heritage Management Team (IHM) it was recommended “that a maximum fine of €116,387 for demolition of greater part of Level 2 Scheduled building is imposed.”