A sports building featuring a gym and indoor padel courts has been proposed for a vacant area of St Julian's.
Plans for a vacant plot of land situated along Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli (Regional Road) and Triq Henry Calleja were filed with the Planning Authority by Jodie Camilleri late last year.
The plans envision the excavation of the existing site - which measures around 2,000 square metres - for a level of underground parking, and the construction of a two-storey building which will include several sporting facilities together with a roof garden and a pedestrian bridge to the overlying Triq Charles Sciberras.
Among the sporting facilities which are being proposed are three indoor padel courts, a yoga studio, a pool, a 200 square metre gym, and a sports shop.
The plans envision a roof garden which will be open to the public and which will feature a kiosk, play areas, seating areas, and a communal area as well. The proposed 18 metre pedestrian bridge will run from the roof garden over an exit/entry road for Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli to Triq Charles Sciberras.
This is not the first time that plans for this plot of land have been filed.
Back in 2022 the same applicant had filed plans for a larger development which featured two storeys of underground parking instead of one and which also featured an English Language School together with offices.
However the application was withdrawn after the Planning Authority's case officer recommended its refusal. This recommendation was primarily on the basis that the local plans for the area stipulate that development on green areas may only be done if for uses which are either complementary to public open spaces or for sport-related activities.
The new application reflects that stipulation, as the initially proposed language school and offices do not feature in the new plans.
The new application was only filed recently, meaning that entities and authorities are yet to submit their recommendations and assessments on the development.
The case status therefore is still pending a recommendation from the PA's case officer.