The planning application to construct a residence for university students adjacent to the academic institution is expected to be decided upon before the end of the year.
The Planning Authority's Board is set to discuss the application on 20 December. The application is for the " development of a university residence (690 bedroom units), ancillary commercial space, student community amenities, language school, lecture space, office building and an underground car park (456 car spaces)."
"The proposed development will consist of 4 basement levels accommodating a total of 456 car parking spaces. Three levels of commercial spaces overlooking the university access road are being proposed (levels -2, -1 and 1). In addition to this, a language school, and indoor garden and an outdoor swimming pool are being proposed at level 1. For levels 2 till 10, the development will consist of 6 separate blocks; 5 blocks for student accommodation and a single block for administration offices. The blocks will have varying heights up to a maximum of 10 floors when seen from the university access road," the case officer's report reads.
"The site is located in the area known as Ta' Gjalpos, Msida, which lies outside the development zone. The area, which covers approximately 8,780 square metres is situated between the sites of the University of Malta and the Mater Dei hospital. The site is reserved for the future expansion of Government Institutions, with policy referring exclusively to either the Mater Dei hospital or the University of Malta. The site consists of a currently disused garden centre and an adjacent residence. Forming part of the complex is a vernacular farmhouse. The demolition of the existing buildings, the dismantling and relocation of the vernacular farmhouse as well as the excavation of the site, are subject to a separate pending application." This separate application is also to be discussed on 20 December.
The university has been eying this project for a number of years, and the need for student accommodation near campus has been covered in the media over recent years. Gozitan students attending the university have found issues when it comes to finding accommodation in Malta, and there are hopes that this project will help solve the problem.
This application follows a tender issued by Malta University Holdings Company Ltd on behalf of the University of Malta for private parties interested in participating in development and operation of student accommodation, educational and sports facilities.
The aim of the development follows the expiry of the current lease agreement that the university currently holds with third parties on a site in Lija as well as the University's intent to attract further foreign students, the case officer's report reads. The development also includes basement parking levels, commercial outlets, office space for the administration of the university, a language school and recreational space.
"The University's choice for this site was based in its position adjacent to the University's main entrance, the adjacent public transport hub and the possibility to offer facilities of benefit to the Mater Dei Hospital and the Life Science Park. Alternative sites such as the area at the east of the university near the sports complex and the area indicated in the Local Plan as Student Housing Priority Area have been discarded by the University due to space restrictions and lack of land ownership, respectively," the case officer's report reads.
An objection letter was submitted by Mater Dei Hospital raising concerns on the potential negative impacts the use proposed on site would have with the operations of Mater Dei Hospital. This representation was subsequently withdrawn by the hospital, "albeit MDH requested that a number of conditions are imposed in the development permission to safeguard the operation of the hospital."
The Design Advisory Committee was initially concerned on the overall massing and height of the building, and its impact on the skyline. The architect submitted a clarification letter arguing that the proposed building is located between two national institutions which are both of substantial scale and generate a high demand for additional floor space. At the same time, the site is subject to physical restrictions resulting from the protect Wied Ghollieqa at the North and from the existing road network. A balance was thus sought between the demands for floor space, the physical constraint limiting horizontal expansion and the need to contextualise the proposal to the surrounding building volumes." This balance, the report read, was found by capping the overall height of the building under an inclined plane connecting the massing of the Mater Dei Hospital and the University of Malta; the insertion, at the centre of the students' residence, of a landscaped garden which will be linked to Wied Għollieqa by means of green corridors; introduction of different colours in the façade, changing with every horizontal mass to read as distinct overlying blocks, reducing the visual scale of the building blocks, and more.
The report read that the proposal, together with the excavation works proposed in the separate application, were screened by the Environment and Resources Authority. "The screening concluded that the environmental impacts from the said development are unlikely to be significant and no Environment Impact Assessment submission was required."
The case officer recommended that the project be approved.
The second, separate application consists of the dismantling of an existing vernacular building from the site and its reconstruction on another site within the University, the demolition of existing buildings within the site boundary and the excavation of the site. This application is also proposed to be approved by the case officer.