The Grand Hotel Verdala which was built in 1970 along the ridge-edge of Tal-Virtu limits of Rabat will be demolished and redeveloped into a mixed-use project after the Planning Board agreed in principle by granting an outline development permit. The height and massing of the new proposed development will be lower and has a better distribution than that of the existing development, the Planning Authorioty said in a statement . 

The Planning Board cited that the proposed development has a lesser visual impact on the skyline and landscape of the existing buildings and also from the development permission which was granted in 2000, which permission had not be utilized in its entirety. The board noted that the design and layout of the project will be decided when the full development application of this project is submitted and assessed.  

The project will include the construction of a hotel and apart-hotel with guestrooms and serviced apartments, spa, gym and facilities as well as the construction of two new residential blocks with private apartments.

The board also agreed to sanction the structural internal and external alternations carried out on the existing hotel’s annex. The annex will not be demolished but will subsequently be adjoined to the new proposed hotel.

The board was satisfied that this project had addressed a number of environmental, visual and traffic concerns that had been raised by a number of objectors, consultees and the Local Council and that the project, once realised, will regenerate the existing site of the closed hotel building and its surroundings.