The planning watchdog has confirmed that demolition works in part of Fort Cambridge in Tigné are in line with the project permits and that it is monitoring the works along with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage.

The Malta Independent reported on Wednesday how the left-hand corner of the landward side of the fort was demolished, but the developers insisted that this was not the original structure, having been built in the 1970s and that it would be built again according to the original blueprints.

Fort Cambridge was built by the British between 1879 and 1898 and housed an Armstrong 100-tonne gun like the one still found at Fort Rinella, is being restored by Gap Developments, which is developing luxury apartments adjacent to the historical site.

GAP Director Paul Attard told this newspaper that the part of the fort that was torn down had already been demolished and rebuilt in the 70s to accommodate an indoor pool then used by the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Indeed, the fortification was heavily damaged to accommodate hotel amenities, including another, outdoor pool, a restaurant on its roof and two tennis courts. The alien structures were removed in the first phase of the project.

Mr Attard explained that restoration works came to a halt after workers discovered evidence of an internal explosion that had taken place at some point in time within the walls of the fort. The competent authorities were brought in to study the findings and to establish whether the explosion had damaged the structural integrity of the building. He explained that the necessary permits for works in that part of the fort to continue will be issued soon and insisted that the part that was recently demolished will be built again according to the original British blueprints.

Mr Attard could not give an approximate date of completion for the project and said works on the nearby Officer’s Quarters, also of historical importance, have not yet started but the company is bound to restore the building.

When asked about the demolition works, after being alerted to them by a concerned reader, the planning authority confirmed that everything is in line with the project permit. It is understood that MEPA enforcement officers visited the site after the questions sent by this paper. A MEPA spokesman said: “Kindly note that permission PA3549/09 granted consent for the restoration of Fort Cambridge.  The approved works include the demolition of various accretions to the original fortification.   Most of the accretions were constructed during the 1970s and 1980s, as ancillary facilities to the hotel.

The works on site are being monitored by MEPA (in relation to demolition, restoration and construction works) and by the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage (in relation to ground disturbance).  The development currently in hand is following the approved drawings and documents of the permission PA3549/09.