Premier League side Santa Lucia FC are set to get the green light from the Planning Authority for a massive upgrade on their current football complex.
The project will see the rebuilding of the current complex into a facility which includes a new football pitch, underground parking, a hostel, a football school, and an indoor pool.
It is recommended for approval by the Planning Authority's case officer, and will be heard by the Planning Board on Thursday.
The site, covering an area of approximately 16,215m², falls within the limits to development and consists of the Santa Lucia FC football ground, spectator stands, clubhouse, dressing rooms, open parking area and the surrounding gardens facing on three roads, namely Triq il-Begonja, Dawret it-Torri and Vjal l-Oleandri in Santa Lucia.
On Triq il-Begonja, there is a row of three housing blocks and terraced houses. On Dawret it-Torri, there are a series of terraced houses and the locality's series of local shops, whilst adjacent to the site, there is a political club.
On Vjal l-Oleandri, there is a Bocci Club and pitch, whilst the rest is an open area.
The Santa Lucia football pitch was built years ago, with artificial turf then installed to have it in line with today's standards. The football pitch hosts several amateur football leagues which are affiliated with the Malta Football Association.
The proposed development will include a raft of facilities replacing the current layout, which includes only a full-sized football pitch, a small stand for spectators and a clubhouse.
The development would see the construction of a new FIFA approved size football pitch and spectator stand with media area & control room, a new Santa Lucia FC Club House, a Football School, a hostel for visiting teams and students, underground vehicular and bicycle parking facilities, soft and hard landscaped public open spaces, an indoor swimming pool, a gym and fitness centre and spa and health care centre, a conference space, a childcare centre, small-scale retail and food and drink outlets, an administration block, and a hybrid resource centre.
The hostel would contain 40 bedrooms which provide a total of 96 beds, while the school would cater to a maximum of 200 pupils.
The football's pitch's spectator capacity would be of 822 seats, while the underground car park would provide a total of 191 car spaces and have 50 square metres dedicated for bicycle parking.
The project would make the facility one of the most comprehensive sporting facilities in the country.
The case officer said that "taking into consideration the established football related use, with this pitch used for official matches, given with the overall context of the area and provided with the Commercialisation of Sports Facilities Regulations, which encourage ancillary uses in the perimeter of such grounds, the proposed uses directly and not directly related to the practiced sport are deemed acceptable."
Under guidelines introduced some years ago, sports clubs may apply for the commercialisation of their sports facilities so that they may carry out commercial activities at them.
Santa Lucia FC were granted clearance for the commercialisation of their facilities in April 2021, having applied in February 2020. The clearance allowed them to apply for an outline development permit with the Planning Authority, which it proceeded to do.
Transport Malta had no objection to the proposal, but said that one of the conditions for this non-objection was that the proposed underground parking - which is replacing a parking area at street level - be always accessible to all Santa Lucia residents at special discount rates.
Furthermore, 50 parking spaces must be allocated to residents on a first-come-first-served basis at no charge in order to make up for the 45 parking spaces which will be lost on street level due to the development.
The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage did not object to the development, but noted that there is an ancient water cistern recorded within the site of the proposed development which must be preserved and safeguarded throughout the course of the works.
The ERA meanwhile said that there are no major concerns with regards to the proposed development from an environmental point of view, particularly as the site is within the development zone.
With all the above in mind, the Planning Authority's case officer recommended that the project be approved.
Santa Lucia competes in the BOV Premier League, having been spared from relegation during the 2021/22 season due to Pembroke Athleta FC refusing promotion to Malta's top division, and having avoided the drop during the 2022/23 season through a relegation play-off.
The club finished in 12th place out of 14 teams, with just four wins to their name from 26 matches and a tally of 15 points - just one more than relegated Zebbug Rangers.
They subsequently beat Zejtun Corinthians 2-0 in a play-off to determine which of the two clubs would hold a place in Malta's top division.
The project would likely be the first approved under the government's sports commercialisation laws, which were introduced in 2017 and amended last year but which have taken a while to get off the ground.
Another application under consideration at the moment is from Marsaxlokk FC - who also compete in the Premier League. However, the approval from the body handling applications for commercialisation of sporting facilities for the club's project, which includes a significantly sized home for the elderly, is still yet to arrive.
Joseph Portelli's Hamrun Spartans are also among those gearing up to file a planning application for the upgrade of their sporting facilities - but this too is subject to being granted the commercialisation licence.