The former Gozo Heritage museum, which had closed down in 2009 after 21 years in operation, will be redeveloped into housing in a project that was approved by MEPA's Environment and Planning Commission B board this week.
The museum building, on Mġarr Road, Għajnsielem, had actually been a large farmhouse before the museum was officially opened in 1988. The museum sought to showcase 7,000 years of Gozitan history, including through model reconstructions enhanced with the use of atmospheric light and sound.
But the museum ended up closing its doors on May 2009, leading to the loss of 10 jobs. In an article which had appeared on The Times following its closure, museum director Brian Mizzi said that it had been registering losses for the previous four years, but could not manage a turnaround.
An employee who declined to be named had reported that the reconstruction of the Mġarr Road between 2006 and 2007 contributed to its demise: tour operators stopped visiting when the road works began, and did not return when they finished.
Another factor, according to the same employee, was the cheap rates offered by Heritage Malta to tour operators, which made it hard for the privately-owned museum to compete and helped contribute to its falling off the tourist radar.
But the plans to turn the museum, along with an adjacent property, into residential units were set in motion months before the museum closed. An outline development application was filed by Mr Mizzi on December 2008.
The case officer assigned to the application actually recommended that the project should be refused, a recommendation echoed by the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.
In its recommendation, the CHAC noted that the proposal "includes excessive development around an old farmhouse, and this development is detrimental to the site's vernacular character. The construction in the internal courtyard is also objectionable."
These recommendations led to a revision of the project: the courtyard was to remain unbuilt, and the existing vernacular building was to be retained and restored.
Consequently, a Development Control Commission unanimously decided to issue an outline permit.
A full development permit followed this year.
In light of the changes made to the development project, the case officer assigned - the same one assigned to the outline application - recommended its approval, and the CHAC, after noting that the project involved limited demolition and the retention of all vernacular features, found no objection as long as the proposed works were strictly monitored.
These recommendations paved the way for a unanimous approval of the project by the EPC, although the architect was asked to provide fresh plans to address a number of issues, including parking and access for emergency services.