Senglea hotel approved against advice of Superintendence

A controversial third floor for a proposed hotel in Senglea is to be retained despite repeated objections by the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage and a recommendation for refusal by the MEPA case officer.

The developers had previously dropped a proposed fourth floor from their initial plans but insisted on retaining the third floor.

In letters sent to MEPA in February last year, and again in October, the Superintendence insisted that the proposed third floor would “negatively impact existing views of the skyline” when seen from across the harbour and would “create a high blank wall to the east of the property which would encourage further vertical development in this sensitive area”.

The case officer called for the refusal of the development because it would adversely affect the skyline of the urban conservation area.

But after a site inspection, the Environment Planning Commission described the proposed development as an ‘infill’ between high blank party walls, and as “a good rehabilitation of an existing (two-storey) dilapidated building, which follows the Spatial Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED).”

Moreover the developers gave an assurance that the railing and external spiral staircase would be in stone colour. The new hotel will consist of a ground-floor which will include the reception area and three additional floors, including nine guest rooms and a spa.

The earmarked property dates back to the early 17th century. In the late 19th century the hotel building served as the headquarters of Malta’s first trade union, the Società Operaia.

The Senglea Historical Society has objected to the development because the hotel would not only darken the neighbouring internal yards but also dwarf the 16th century cupola of the church of St Julian.