The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) board yesterday approved the clearance of Ricasoli Industrial Estate, thus paving the way for the construction of SmartCity.

Other applications discussed include the scuttling of a boat in Cirkewwa as well as a postponement of a decision to allow a car park to be built at the Pinto Stores Valletta Waterfront, pending further studies.

The board unanimously approved the demolition of all the factories and the clearance of the site in the current Ricasoli Industrial Estate as well as the construction of a temporary jetty from which excavated material will be taken on barges disposed of at sea.

The application called for the total strip-out of redundant services, removal of all timber and metal apertures, removal of all hazardous waste especially asbestos fittings and any underground asbestos-containing material as well as the structural demolition down to rock bearing level of 19 factories. A factory will be left standing in order to serve as temporary site offices. The erection of a security boundary wall around the site was also agreed upon.

Site inspections will be carried out by an explosive ordnance engineer should any unexploded WWII ordnance be found on site.

The approval was given subject to a number of conditions, related to noise and vibrations and air quality monitoring programmes as well as sampling, analysis, identification and disposal monitoring of material. Other conditions included those related to occupational and public health and will be enforced by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

The full development application, which was agreed upon by the board members, stipulates that the nearby Fort St Rocco will be safeguarded and heavy vehicles will not use the area immediately around the fort. Other buildings of historical importance, such as the Garden Villas at Ta’ Tewma and the Defence Post, are outside the site, therefore not likely to be affected by the demolition works.

According to a Construction Management Plan for the site, the total volume of excavated material will amount to approximately 600,000 cubic metres.

The Mepa board approved also the construction of a 190-metre long road that will link St Rocco Street with St Maria’s Convoy Street in Kalkara, within the development zone of SmartCity.

In a statement, the Investment, Industry and Information Technology Ministry expressed its satisfaction on the effectiveness and cooperation of the various elements within Mepa as their role was important to maintain the momentum of the project.

During the same session, the board approved the scuttling of a patrol boat, the P-29, at Cirkewwa.

The 52-metre long Kondor patrol boat, which was donated by the Armed Forces of Malta, will be scuttled at around 170 metres off the west coast of Cirkewwa at a depth of approximately 35 metres. The boat will be scuttled on Saturday 11 August.

During the discussion, Malta Labour Party board appointee Dr Joseph Brincat, jokingly asked the case officer where will the development notice will be affixed - to the boat or on the shore.

P-29 will rest on this prime diving site’s sandy seabed alongside tugboat wreck Rozi as well as a Madonna statue and a galleon anchor.

The board was asked by the Planning Directorate to refuse the construction of a retail mall and a 224-car multi storey car park behind the facades of Pinto Stores 7 to 12.

Part of the building is to rise on what now serves as a car park, while the remaining spaces will be built after the demolition of the buildings on both sides of the car park.

The directorate said the proposal runs counter to the structure plan and Grand Harbour Local Plan which seek to restrain parking supply and peak hour car journeys to the Valletta/Floriana peninsula. Besides, the directorate said, a car park is not desirable within a recently restored historic building, both because of heritage as well as because of the negative impact of the surge in influx of cars.

The applicant, Viset, said the Valletta Waterfront does not have enough parking spaces to cater for its activities. The board decided to postpone its decision until the applicant carries out further studies.

The Mepa board also ruled in favour of the demolition of the Mira Buildings in Msida so that it will be built as highrise development with 215 residential units, amenities for residents, offices, retail outlets and a car park.

The approval was given subject to an agreement whereby work can only be carried out between 7am and 7pm on Mondays to Fridays and between 7am and 5pm on Saturdays, excluding Sundays and Public Holidays. The applicant also has to make sure that vehicles used during construction have to be wheel washed and that no heavy vehicles must be left waiting on the roads.