Last Updated on Friday, 13 December, 2024 at 11:27 am by Andre Camilleri
A mega-development proposed within Fort Chambray in Gozo and the dismantling of a British barracks building within the same complex has been approved by the Planning Authority.
Both – which were separate applications – were approved by a majority of five votes to two during a Planning Board sitting which ran for over three hours.
Board members Romano Cassar, who represents NGOs, and Mario Borg were the only two to vote against the project. The Ghajnsielem Local Council voted in favour of both applications, although it wanted to see certain conditions imposed into the development.
The more recently filed application (PA 03884/23) proposes the Fort Chambray Phase 3 development, comprising of a 5-star aparthotel with 64 ensuite rooms, 50 serviced apartments and ancillary amenities; 105 “high quality Class 1 residential units with highly landscaped pedestrian environment and the creation of a new public piazza,” as well as part demolition of the existing underground parking levels, including excavations to extend further the existing two parking levels to accommodate garages for private use and car parking spaces for public use.”
The same application proposes the relocation and integration of the British Barracks’ front masonry arcade, inner facade behind the arcade and flanks within the proposed hotel main building; the internal and external alterations to the existing Dar it-Tabib and to change its use into 10 hotel ensuite rooms with ancillary outdoor amenities; the introduction of ancillary hotel amenities within the existing Knights’ Barracks comprising of hotel retail outlets and hotel restaurants at ground floor level, and hotel meeting rooms and conference facilities at first floor level,” among other things.
Photos: Artistic impressions of the project
The second application (PA 02454/16) is tied to the first, and proposed the dismantling of a British Barracks as part of Fort Chambray phase 3 development, to incorporate the arcade, the inner facade behind the arcade, and the flanks within the proposed hotel.
Various elements of Fort Chambray are scheduled as a Grade 1 monument of architectural and historical significance, the case officer’s report for PA 03884/23 notes, but objectors argue that the proposal has treated the Fort as an infill building site.
The British barracks itself is not scheduled, with authorities deciding that a request for scheduling could only be judged after the applications at hand were decided – a decision that NGOs and objectors derided as being senseless.
There were plenty of objectors during the Board meeting, all of whom made their voices heard against the project, with many particularly speaking out against the proposed dismantling and rebuilding of the British barracks.
Objectors raised the fact that the 1992 Development Brief for the site had stipulated that the British barracks should not be touched, but the developers and Planning Authority CEO Oliver Magro noted that the local plans supersede any development brief.
In judging both applications, Planning Board chairman Emanuel Camilleri stipulated that the case officer had recommended that they be approved and that internal and external consultees, including the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, had no objections to the granting of the applications.
Board member Mario Borg said that he was not confident that the points established in the development brief, particularly that there should be tangible benefits for the public and for heritage, were being achieved, and also said that a Social Impact Assessment and Heritage Impact Assessment should be carried out.
NGO representative Romano Cassar said that the proposal to dismantle and rebuild the British barracks is “a travesty which should never be considered.”
The local council stipulated that the ditch around the fort should be rehabilitated and opened as a public space, that a planning gain should be established, and that the development should include an interpretation centre for the public to appreciate the history of the fort.
