Potential of prime sites not being realised

Labour MP Stefan Buontempo has urged the government to redevelop the site occupied by Evans Building in Valletta, saying the value of this prime site could be better realised if a block of luxury apartments or a hotel were built.

Speaking in Parliament, Dr Buontempo said this country was not giving enough importance to urban development, and there was no Department of Urban Development within the civil service.

The former Labour government had wanted to utilise prime sites to raise revenue for the people. But under this government, no decision had been taken yet on the development of the site of the Royal Opera House; the site of the White Rocks Complex, despite its importance, had been made a wasteland and Fort Chambray had been under-sold, despite its potential.

It was a pity that the Evans Building, commanding one of the best views in Valletta, was being used to house a laboratory and the ID Cards section, when it could be better developed as a hotel or luxury apartments.

The redevelopment of the Evans Building site had the potential of raking in revenue for the government, while also helping to regenerate this area of Valletta.

Dr Buontempo said it was also unacceptable that one government after another had not restored Fort St Elmo.

This historic building needed to be given the importance it deserved because of its place in history and its location.

It was just as unacceptable that this government, in office since 1987, had not come up with a single initiative for vacant dwellings to be put to use.

This government had only promised to update the rent laws, but no one was prepared to say when this would happen.

Concluding, Dr Buontempo said rising property prices were destroying Maltese families. This was a concern which the Archbishop had also raised. The government needed to act in the interests of society.