NGOs involved in heritage protection - Flimkien għal  Ambjent Aħjar, Moviment Graffitti, Malta Arch, Malta Archaeological Society and Din l-Art Helwa - are seriously concernedby the spread of over-development to Rabat with an application to convert two heritage houses on Saqqajja Square into a hotel.

"If this damaging planning application to add two storeys above the existing skyline is approved, it will ruin the row of beautiful Victorian houses built by Andrea Vassallo (1856 - 1928), one of Malta's finest architects," the NGOs said.

"Additionally the hotel extension of five floors including bar, swimming pool and restaurant will destroy the gardens and the vista of St Augustine Avenue, one of the finest avenues in Malta where formal gardens on either side stretch from St Mark's church to Mdina. This disproportionate building would wreck the proportion, harmony, architectural fabric and character of the area which should be protected, not destroyed. "

"This new hotel will undoubtedly impact residents due to the increased traffic it will generate in an already congested area. Approving this project would inevitably lead to the destruction of other houses in the area, to the detriment of local community cohesion and the lossof a row of houses of rare beauty in the Maltese islands."

The NGOs are calling for the proposal to be refused on the grounds that the development would rise to four storeys in a residential area with a Local Plan two-storey height limitation. 

"The development would generate extensive excavation in this area of archaeological importance, while the hotel extension adding a swimming pool, bar and restaurant would destroy the gardens, when Guideline 21 of the SPED 2015 stipulates 'the development of gardens should be resisted particularly within UCAs'. The iconic avenue and the unique streetscape between St Mark's Church and Mdina would be ruined by the projecting building and the creation of a blank party wall."

The NGOs have submitted to the Planning Authority and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to protect the streetscape by designating it as a Grade 2 scheduled area. The NGOs have furthermore submitted a formal request to the Planning Authority to take immediate steps to safeguard these late 19th century town houses which contribute tremendously to the aesthetic and architectural value of the area.

A Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) spokesperson stated "The addition of extra floors would ruin the contextual integrity of the iconic Rabat row of houses. The over 3,000objections sent to the Planning Authority to date are clear evidence that citizens can no longer put up with the mutilation of Malta's unique heritage."