The Planning Authority has approved plans to turn the Imperial Hotel in Sliema into a home for the elderly.

The plan will involve the demolition of part of the existing building whilst retaining the scheduled property. The application will also see the excavation of the site to construct car parking spaces and amenities at basement level. The site is located on Rudolph street c/w St Mary’s street c/w Church street.

Architect Charles Buhagiar said that they plan to excavate four levels below street level, and construct four levels above street level (three levels depending on the side of the building). The total site will include six two bedroom dementia wards including sanitary facilities, 165 rooms (9 one bedroom and 156 two bedroom), and 104 car parking spaces. The project will cost around €15 million. The site covers an area of approximately 3950sqm. The front part of the site overlooking Rudolph street is proposed for Grade 2 scheduling. The proposal will retain and restore the scheduled property on the site.

The Sliema local council as well as heritage NGOs had some objections regarding the proposal, which would see the hotel which originally opened back in 1875, altered. The council however, pulled their objection as certain changes were made to the plans which include the use of wooden apertures, and using a step-back in the design of the building to avoid flat-blank walls. The local representative present at the meeting said that an arrangement needs to be reached due to traffic congestion during the construction phase etc.  

Din L-Art Helwa in their submissions, had said that this development is likely to become the tallest building on all 3 streets.

According to the report, the development would be as follows.

Level -4 would mainly include 49 car parking spaces. Level -3 would include a mortuary and 55 car parking spaces. Level -2 will have a food and beverage store, cold rooms, a kitchen, a dining area and internal garden, a switch room, a dementia dining area and restaurant store, a gym, spa and therapy room, a multi-purpose hall, a waiting lounge and sanitary facilities. Level -1 will include a day lounge / chapel, offices and stores, a refuse room, sanitary facilities, a kitchen, a multi-purpose hall and internal garden , a dementia garden and veranda, six two bedroom dementia wards, a high dependency and patient unit and a doctor’s room.

The ground floor will include the main entrance and reception area, a formal lounge and lounge area, a coffee shop area and bar, a nail shop, a hairdresser, a board room, doctor’s room and offices, 44 bedrooms a breakfast room, a tv room and doctor’s room and nurse station. The first floor will have 53 bedrooms including sanitary facilities, a breakfast room and tv room, a cards room. The second floor will include 41 bedrooms. The third floor will have 27 bedrooms. The fourth floor will be for services and includes a service hatch.

The applicant’s representatives also spoke of a green travel plan. “The site is very accessible and is in a dense urban area. A number of measures were introduced not to use cars, including changing rooms, showers and lockers, so that those walking or riding their bikes to the home can change there. Cycle racks will be installed and there will be preferential parking for those who car-share. There will be rebates for workers using public transport as well.”