The British Barracks at Fort Chambray in Gozo was named one of the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe for 2026, as per an announcement during a live online event hosted by Europa Nostra and supported by the European Investment Bank Institute.

The controversy surrounding the proposed development on the site is widely known.

In 2024, the Planning Authority had approved a development application in the Fort, and also approved the demolition of the British barracks building, and the relocation of its facade elsewhere on the site.

The barracks is a 19th iconic building within the Knights-era Fort Chambray. It is understood to have been the first overseas married quarters in the Commonwealth built during the colonial period. It was later used as a hospital during the Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns during World War I. The Barracks presently commands an imposing location overlooking the Gozo-Malta channel.

The listing by Europa Nostra is the result of a nomination submitted by Din l-Art Ħelwa, the National Trust for Malta, the two NGOs said in a statement. The 7 sites were selected by the Board of Europa Nostra from among the shortlisted fourteen cases of heritage at risk previously selected by an international Advisory Panel of the 7 Most Endangered Programme.

Malta's heritage and environment NGOs fight tooth and nail to defend Malta's heritage sites and environmental areas. They should be commended for their commitment and determination. In fact, the Fort Chambray application, which was approved by the Planning Authority Board, is currently under appeal before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal, an appeal filed by NGOs, among others.

Heritage sites like this deserve protection, and not destruction and partial relocation. The site should have been scheduled.

Patrick Calleja, Executive President of Din l-Art Ħelwa, said: "We are grateful to Europa Nostra for recognising the critical danger facing the British Barracks and amplifying the voice of civil society. This listing is a crucial step in our fight to halt its destruction - destruction not caused by the natural elements but by human intervention"

If we do not look after our heritage buildings then future generations are the ones who will end up losing out. The Planning Authority needs to be more sensitive to this fact, not just on this issue, but when it comes to all applications regarding old buildings. It was a mistake for the Board to approve the plans for the Barracks.

We need to better protect buildings that deserve heritage protection. It makes sense, of course, to find uses for heritage buildings in order to ensure that they are well taken care of. But those uses should not change or alter what the building looks like unless extensive maintenance is required, and should not result in its demolition or relocation. The British barracks should be afforded better protection.