The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has issued for public consultation, a specific Planning Policy for the site currently occupied by the Selmun Palace Hotel in Mellieha.
To avoid that this prime tourism site which covers an area of around 2.9 hectares falls into disrepair with the consequent unwelcome detriment to its important historic and cultural context, the Authority, through this proposed policy, is setting the necessary planning and development framework that can potentially give new life to this site.
The most important elements of this policy are the requirement that the site remains for tourism use, it is planned and developed comprehensively and the development density shall be strictly limited to the areas and volumes established in this policy.
The policy favourably considers the rehabilitation of the existing hotel buildings and/or their redevelopment so long as the layout shall broadly retain the position and orientation of the existing hotel building. The relocation and consolidation of the outbuildings may be considered provided they are not worthy of protection and do not adversely affect the setting of the scheduled Grade I Palace.
The construction of a new wing will only be considered favourably if the new wing is located within the area indicated within the policy.
A complete redesign of the existing layout will only be considered in the exceptional circumstances where the end product is of such high quality that it merits consideration outside the provisions of this criterion. The other provisions of this policy shall still need to be followed by the design of the scheme for both situations and would need to be supported by a proper visual and landscape assessment.
While any development proposal shall never exceed the overall height of the existing main hotel building, the policy encourages that the monolithic appearance of the existing building will be broken by the creative use of architectural elements, different colour schemes and materials.
Through this proposed policy, Mepa is also obliging any potential investors to restore and rehabilitate the Grade 1 scheduled palace and make a one-time, lump sum, monetary contribution, to a fund administered by the Authority aimed at the enhancement of public access and enjoyment of the countryside and for the purpose of other community projects in the locality.
Last month, the Authority published for public consultation the objectives which were to guide the drafting of this policy.
The proposed planning policy together with the relevant maps and the submissions received from the public on the policy objectives may be viewed on the MEPA's website www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation.
MEPA invites the public and interested parties to send their comments related to this proposed policy. Representations are to be made in writing and sent to the:
The Chief Executive Officer
Planning Policy for Selmun Palace Hotel Site
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority
St. Francis Ravelin
Floriana CMR 01
or through email address [email protected]
Submissions must be sent to the Authority by not later than Monday 22nd June 2015.