If the artist’s impressions are anything to go by, the extension of the MCP car park in Floriana will improve the entrance to Valletta, and its skyline no end.

Let us talk from a pure aesthetic and value-for-money point of view. The ugly, yet necessary, car park will see the centre void ‘filled in’ with an additional 400 car parking spaces, increasing total capacity to 1,550.

But the icing on the cake is that the €5 million project will be topped off by a public garden at street level. We know that designs are what they are, but it truly is a minimalist approach with lawns and trees shading the way towards the Triton Fountain and City Gate. The project will also complement the public gardens’ project in the ditch of Valletta.

Instead of the entrance to an Afghan Kasbah, City Gate is starting to look more like it should in terms of an ancient people developing in the modern world. Renzo Piano’s plans may not be everyone’s cup of tea in their entirety (the Gate, the Bridge, the new House of Parliament and the open-air theatre). But there is no doubt that when putting together all the pieces in the puzzle, Valletta is going to look a lot more attractive and peaceful.

It is already better than it used to be. The bedlam of kiosks, buses and hawkers that used to cause a throng to the entrance are already greatly altered. But this new leafy and gardened approach is something entirely different. It will be peaceful, pleasant and stimulating. But there is a ‘but’. Unless the designers go the full monty and clear out all the remaining ramshackle affairs adorning the external bastion walls, then it will be all for nothing.

Some way or another, the buses also need to go. It will be useless to create this lovely approach to the Capital, unless it leads all the way in. Let us not be misinterpreted, we believe that the idea of the garden on top of the car park will improve matters tremendously, however, it would be nice if just for once, we could get it right at the first time of asking.

In addition, we welcome the conditions imposed on the developer. The original emphyteutical concession was for 50 years with a yearly ground rent of €23,000. The concession will now be extended by a further 65 years but the ground rent will be increased to €200,000 with the possibility of being revised every 10 years. Other conditions imposed include the banning of any commercial outlets in the car park, which might generate a demand for parking spaces such as supermarkets or restaurants. The only exceptions are car valeting services and sports facilities such as a fitness centre.

Works to complete the project are expected to take 18 months. However, the project needs parliament’s green light as it involves amendments to the deed of emphyteusis signed way back in 1991. A motion to alter the terms of the emphyteutical concession was tabled in parliament on Tuesday morning. It will not be debated in the plenary but in the National Audit Office Accounts Committee; however, it still needs formal approval in the House – a potential snag, if the current shenanigans continue.