A scheduled Sliema townhouse on Cathedral Street would see additional floors built, and internal changes made, should an application with the Planning Authority be approved. The council and NGOs have objected.
The site is located within the limits to development within the Urban Conservation Area of Sliema. “It consists of a symmetrical double fronted town-house having a restrained neo-classical exterior with a more lavish internal layout accentuated by fine architectural detailing concentrated in the main hall and main staircase, together with its centralised axis leading from the front door to the ‘nympheum’ at the back of the garden,” the case officer’s report reads.
It forms part of a series of four elaborate double fronted town houses reputedly constructed in the last quarter of the 19th century by the Mdina Cathedral Chapter for clergymen hailing from local notable families. “The town house under consideration is the last in this row of houses which abut it on the left, whilst on the right it is abutted by a single fronted Art Nouveau town house, attributed to Architect Giovanni Psaila who worked prolifically in the Sliema area during the first part of the 20th century and whose most noteworthy work is Balluta Buildings.”
The case was presented to the Planning Authority Board on 16 November 2017. Following discussions and presentation by the directorate, the architect as well as representees, the case was deferred for revised drawings to be submitted.
During the application stage, the property in question was scheduled as Grade 2 due to its heritage value. The site in question, together with another four properties in the same stretch of buildings were scheduled by the Planning Authority as Grade 2 properties on 7th December 2017.
The architect was requested -to obtain clearance from the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage in that the Superintendence had objected to proposal. To date, no such clearance has been provided, the updated case officer’s report read.
The Design Advisory Committee considered the resubmitted drawings, which did reduce from the original height of the building, and noted that the proposal will still create blank party walls on both sides of the site. “This remains a major issue”
When considering the revised plans, the Planning Directorate said that the proposed alterations to the original fabric are still excessive, leading to loss of original architectural features within the entrance hall, the original staircase at upper floors and the configuration of the existing enclosed yard, running counter to policy.
While the number of floors was reduced from three additional floors and a setback floor to two in the revised drawings, the Planning Directorate still feels that the proposed additional floors are still considered to be unacceptable in terms of design.
In terms of height, the Planning Directorate does not seem to agree with how the street height transition was plotted. As a result, they came to the conclusion that at most, one full additional floor may be considered together with a setback floor. “The proposal is thus still not considered acceptable in that it does not conform to the context of the existing streetscape running counter to the relevant plans and policies.”
The Sliema Heritage Society is objecting to the proposal, arguing that since the building was scheduled, it should be retained as a single townhouse.
ENGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar have also objected to the proposed additional floors, arguing that it would ruin the streetscape. “FAA is also objecting to works in that the town house is to be retained in its entirety and thus internal demolitions are not acceptable. The overall development is thus in breach of the Grade 2 scheduling of the building.”
Lastly, the Sliema local council also objected arguing the proposal runs counter to policy.