The Planning Authority on Thursday approved the redevelopment of the long-abandoned Ħal Ferħ complex in Għajn Tuffieħa, with the Planning Board voting unanimously in favour of the project.

Submitted by the Corinthia Group and branded as the Corinthia Oasis, the proposal will transform the former Air Malta holiday village into a mixed-use luxury resort integrating hospitality and residential components.

The tourism segment comprises a 122-room hotel, 22 water suites and 17 garden suites, complemented by pools, a spa, a gym and the restoration and adaptive reuse of a historic military chapel.

The residential element - the most debated aspect of the application - includes 16 villas and nine bungalows spread across 30,579 square metres. Although permanent residential development is typically prohibited in Outside Development Zone (ODZ) areas, amendments to the local plan approved in 2021 permit high-quality residential units within this location.

The 25 villas and bungalows are structured as independent Class 1 dwellings and may be sold separately to private owners. This differs from the hotel suites, which remain restricted to tourism use. As part of the approval, Corinthia will pay €225,000 in planning gain for the ODZ component and €10.3 million to the Lands Authority for the change of use to residential.

Photomontages presented to the board indicate that while the project could have a substantial visual impact without landscaping, this is expected to be mitigated through extensive planting, including mature trees cultivated in an existing on-site nursery. Building heights are capped at 4.75 metres for single-storey units and 8.5 metres for two-storey structures, limiting visual intrusion.

No objections were raised by board members during the hearing.

The Planning Authority had previously approved a 228-unit tourism-focused resort on the same site in 2013, primarily comprising timeshare apartments. Unlike that proposal, the Corinthia Oasis combines a hotel with 25 permanent residential units.