MIDI said Friday it remains committed to the development of Manoel Island interms of the approved Outline Development Permit and will continue to work with the local council and other consultees who are prepared to engage in constructive dialogue to truly create a destination for the benefit of future generations.

In a right of reply received by this media house, MIDI was countering a statement issued by Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar in which the NGO reminded the government of its right to take back Manoel Island by rescinding the deed of emphyteusis. The statement was carried by The Malta Independent on Thursday 11 May.

The following is MIDI's right of reply in full: 

MIDI welcomes the Court of Appeal’s decision to reject the FAA’s appeal in respect of the validity of the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) associated with the Outline Development Permit for the development of Manoel Island.

MIDI has always respected the right of objectors to appeal decisions of the Planning Authority. However, to appeal, as declared in the past by FAA, every decision taken by the Authorities, ”in the hope that the delays will negatively impact the time frames associated with MIDI’s development obligations”, is vexatious and abusive. In addition, the FAA fails to acknowledge the effort made by MIDI to ensure that the interests of the local community and the public are respected. 

With respect to MIDI’s completion obligation raised by the FAA, the Emphyteutical Deed provides that the development works contemplated at Manoel Island and Tigne Point must be substantially completed by 31st March 2026, including a 3-year grace period. However, the Emphyteutical Deed is clear that the substantial completion of the development is directly linked to the issue of the executable full development permits for each phase of the development. Furthermore, MIDI categorically refutes any claims that the delays associated with obtaining permits are partly attributable to alleged illegalities committed by MIDI.

Following the approval of the outline development permit for Manoel Island, MIDI plc has now submitted a full planning application for the development of Manoel Island. The application for a mixed used development, contemplates that the footprint of the area occupied by the new buildings is less than 10% of MIDI’s concession. The development will consist of three residential clusters making up a total of 323 residential units (reduced from 499 units as per the approved 1994 masterplan). The location of these residential clusters remains within the same areas determined in the outline permit, mainly in the southern and central part of the island. The application also presents detailed landscaping designs for the 35,000sqm of public open space, extending from the entrance of the island to the Lazzaretto, of which 10,000sqm is an indigenous garden. The remaining 25,000sqm consists of hard and soft landscaping including a meditation garden for the benefit of visitors and residents. This 35,000sqm of open space forms part of the overall 192,000sqm of open spaces across the remainder of the island of which 80,000sqm is a natural glacis public park surrounding Fort Manoel. 

MIDI remains committed to the development of Manoel Island in terms of the approved Outline Development Permit and will continue to work with the local council and other consultees who are prepared to engage in constructive dialogue to truly create a destination for the benefit of future generations.