A little known fort on a very popular peninsula is getting a revamp. While the battery financed by Balí de Tigné managed to get a promontory named after it, Fort Cambridge, an addition from the British period, is relatively unknown. The Fort Cambridge area is located on the Tigné peninsula fronting ix-Xatt ta’ Qui -Si-Sana. The whole area is currently both residential and commercial and a substantial development is now underway on the same peninsula. The Fort Cambridge site is popularly identified with the grounds of the former Crowne Plaza Hotel.

Fort Cambridge

Also known as the Cambridge Battery, Fort Cambridge (map 1) is pentagonal in plan. The fort dates to between 1878 and 1886 and formerly included one of the famous 100-tonne guns such as the one now at Fort Rinella.

The fort is, in effect, a twin of the Rinella Fort and differs only slightly in design. The fort and its gun were the result of increasing British colonial nervousness at Italy’s upgrading of its fleet following unification in 1871.

On the Tigné peninsula, Fort Cambridge complements the other fortifications, including Fort Tigné, that oversees the entrance to Marsamxett Harbour, and the Garden Battery that is located in between these two forts.

Inglorious decline

In the past, the fort has been compromised by inappropriate development in both the fort itself and its surroundings, that have defaced this heritage asset. These developments include restrictive boundary walls that reduce the visual appreciation of the fort from the surrounding area, tennis courts on the area forming part of the glacis and a reinforced concrete swimming pool instead of the central yard. The developments that were allowed to happen in the area were mainly the result of a lack of awareness, appreciation and creativity in the re-utilisation of British fortifications. Only in the past decade or so has this acceptance been forthcoming, but by then most of the forts had been leased for inappropriate purposes in certain locations.

Planning strategy

The general strategy followed by the Fort Cambridge Development Brief is to promote the efficient and sustainable development and use of the land on this site. The strategy also considers the need for the development to be economically viable, while safeguarding existing heritage assets. Thus, the overall planning strategy is to promote redevelopment and reuse, while improving the general environment of the area and its heritage, as well as to add amenity and leisure facilities for the residents of Sliema.

Targets

The aims of this development brief may be summarised as follows:

To redevelop this site, safeguarding the residential quality of surrounding areas. This will imply that a landscaped space as a buffer zone along residential streets is a fundamental requirement of the brief.

To complete high quality development, including restoration work.

To provide efficient vehicular access and circulation to the site and minimise the impact of traffic on the

surrounding road network.

To increase pedestrian access.

To create new public open spaces.

To ensure that any new development respects the heritage assets in the area through proper layout, massing and design. In particular, the context of the fort needs to be respected in terms of its planned historical function and design with an open front.

To ensure an adequate conservation programme, as approved by Mepa, for the restoration, promotion and proper reuse of Fort Cambridge and all its outer works (ditches and glacis) including the removal of all accretions, except where such removal would result in further damage to the site.

To retain the façade of the former military barracks building identified as a landmark building.

To integrate the fort and its surroundings with the existing fortification work at the Garden Battery to the east.

To portray Fort Cambridge and the former military barracks building to their best advantage.

The highs and lows

Although the development brief actually covers the specific area of Fort Cambridge, the land use of the whole area has to be considered.

Within the area of the brief, the highest development is to be allowed in the area marked 1 on map 2. Although the maximum height allowed in this block is 16 storeys, there are specific musts which will have to be observed. On the side of Triq Tigne, the building height cannot be higher than five floors plus a penthouse. These include a stepping down of storeys from the west to the east of the area, that is, in the direction of the fort. The design of this building will be such as to create a quality townscape and ensuring openness. Of the areas marked 1 and 1a, only 60 per cent of the land can be developed. Of the remaining 40 per cent, half of this is to be a public open space with public access and circulation.

The area marked 2 is currently occupied by the tennis courts. This space can be developed underground and the glacis is to be re-instated. Excavations can start at least 10m away from the line marked x-x.

The area identified in the map as 3 will have a height limitation of four storeys.

The area identified in the map as 4 will have a height limitation of seven storeys.

The area identified in the map as 5 will have a height limitation of six stories.

The area identified in the map as 6 will have a height limitation of eight storeys.

The area identified in the map as 7 will have a height limitation of five storeys.

On the beach…

The former beach concession, marked 8 on the map, was granted by the government on the basis that the site be used for tourism through the use of a hotel. The reuse of the beach concession will not be permitted by Mepa, and the former beach concession area will revert back to public, open, coastal space.

End game

As in all matters, finally it all comes down to planning. This in itself is not an easy task. The aim of the development brief is to ensure lasting value for the area that it targets, in this case the area around Fort Cambridge.

The development brief, in tandem with the local plan for the area, gives a blueprint for development in the area in the years to come.