Developers Mizzi Estates have filed a new application to demolish and reconstruct the abandoned hotel in Mellieha, Festival Hotel, which lies in an ODZ and a buffer zone for an Area of Ecological Importance.

The site is located in the Foresta 2000 nature reserve between the Red Tower and the boathouses in Mellieha.

The application was filed last May and is set to finalise screening by the end of the month.

Initially, AX Holdings had published an application in 1993 to refurbish the hotel, but this was withdrawn. Following this, Mizzi Estates presented an application in 1996 which was dormant until new plans were published in 2017 and 2018 showing 22 villas. However, these plans fizzled out after Mizzi Estates withdrew the application.

The latest application now proposes the “demolition of existing hotel structure and re-construction of the same Class 3B hotel. The proposal includes external and internal changes to propose a hotel which is in line with today`s standards and requirements.”

It further revealed that the hotel will include“5-floor levels above ground floor consisting of reception area, hotel rooms, pool, restaurants, back of house, parking spaces and all other ancillary facilities required by a hotel.”

The plans show that the developers are aiming to maintain the same design, however, there is still the need to demolish the dilapidated building which has significantly degraded.

The ruins show the reminiscing of an aparthotel which dates back to 1980 and was designed by architect Richard England. The aparthotel was constructed on the hillside with 31 self-catering apartments. It was constructed in a way not to exceed one storey above the contours of the terrain at any point.

However, the hillside began to give way before construction was completed. Today the abandoned site is full of graffiti and it is totally engulfed by nature and trees from the Foresta 2000 nature reserve.