Work on old villa 'on hold'

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority insisted yesterday it had not sanctioned the works carried out on the old Villa Cassar Torreggiani, a grade 2 scheduled building, in St Julian's.

Referring to yesterday's back-page report entitled "Architectural value of villa jeopardised", Mepa said the works sanctioned were those carried out on the main hotel building adjacent to this site.

The enforcement notice issued on Villa Cassar Torreggiani was still active and works were at a standstill, the authority said.

The Mepa board has requested the developer to submit a new restoration method statement for the villa that clearly identifies the works that were to be carried out there. Works on the villa may commence only once this method statement has been approved by Mepa, the authority said.

A Lm50,000 bank guarantee has been imposed on the developer to ensure compliance with the new method statement.