The Planning Authority has told the developer who planned to convert a Cathedral street Townhouse into a six-storey apartment block to revise his proposal.
The controversial planning application had received a flood of objections by NGOs and third parties,
The plans before the board today proposed the demolition of the larger part of the existing town house, "retaining the facade, entrance hall and first flight of steps together with the addition of three floors and a setback floor. The proposed building is organised on 5 floors plus a setback floor." The case officer had recommended that the case be refused.
The case officer, in his report, had said that the excessive demolition, unacceptable height, etc. had been communicated to the architect in letter. "The architect's most recent submissions do not address the issues satisfactorily. The architect requested a further suspension of the application, however the architect was notified that all of the available suspension period has been availed of and no further suspension may be granted."
One letter of objection, submitted by Architect Stephen Psaila representing third parties, read that the town house forms part of a row of double fronted townhouses commissioned by the Mdina Cathedral between 1870 and 1886 for clergymen coming from renowned families. "The houses are characterised by similar layouts, symmetrical facades and similar architectural elements which create ornate facades which give a strong character to this part of Cathedral Street. This led to the establishment of a height limitation of two floors for the area as designated in the Local Plan, which scenario has survived till today. Approval of the development would irreversibly alter the streetscape. Furthermore, the townhouses rest on highly fractured rock and the row of buildings will be affected by excavation works." Objections were also filed by FAA, the Sliema local council, Din L-Art Helwa, and others.
The board today did not vote on the proposal, and voted to give the developer time to revise the plans.
During the meeting, Sliema local councillor Paul Radmilli said that allowing the development would seal the fate of the townhouses adjacent to this one.
The project architect said that the mixed building heights in the area made the application justifiable.