A number of landmark buildings in Sliema and Gzira have been a given a high protection status by the Planning Authority for their architecture and heritage value. Some of the landmark buildings include the St.Patrick's Salesian School, the Ex-Savoy Hotel, the original Imperial Hotel in Sliema and the existing polyclinic building and ex-water and sewer pumping station in Gzira.
The highest level of protection, Grade 1, was given to the neo-gothic building which served as the water and sewer pumping station in Gzira and the buffer zone area around the Fort Sliema structure and the St.Julian's Tower and Battery, known to locals as Il-Fortizza and It-Torri respectively. Both the Fort and the Tower had been scheduled in 1995.
The Authority also scheduled, as Grade 2 buildings, three cluster of houses in Triq Stella Maris and Triq il-Madonna tas-Sacro Cuor in Sliema. Other residences which received the same protection status include Lancaster House in Triq il-Lunzjata corner with Triq Castelletti and Villa d'Argens in Triq Cuschieri.
Two authentic and rare grocery stores in Sliema, Victory Store and Colonial Grocery were also given Grade 2 protection. These two retail properties carry a historical social significance and aesthetic/architectural value.
Palazzo Capua, a 19th century neo-classical building which at the height of its grandeur included extensive gardens, typical of such stately home was also protected as a Grade 2 building. This Palazzo for a time served as the residence of the Prince of Capua (1811 -1862) and his wife Penelope Caroline Smyth while in exile.
The facades' of the ex-Sliema telephone exchange and those of a homogenous set of properties in Triq Tigne' corner with Triq Sant' Antnin were also protected.
Over the past 6 months the Authority issued a heritage protection status for a total of over 80 properties in Sliema and Gzira. The full list of properties which have been scheduled this week may be viewed at https://goo.gl/JtpysH