Mistra Heights propose 16 storeys

Developers behind a controversial high-rise development in Xemxija have increased the proposed height of the project from 11 to 16 storeys in their latest planning application.

Conservation group Din l-Art Ħelwa has criticised the move and called on the planning authority not to give its go-ahead to the building.

The 868-appartment, Mistra Heights complex had already attracted criticism from environmental groups when the planning authority approved a preliminary permit for a maximum of 11 storeys last year, depending on the road level. The project was toned down from the original plans, doing away with a proposed 19-storey tower and reducing the units by 100.

It replaces the former Mistra Village and is a joint venture between Maltese developers JPM Brothers Ltd and Al Masalleh Real Estate Ltd of Kuwait.

In the recently submitted full development application, which is the last stage before construction can start, the developers submitted plans for 16 storeys.

Din l-Art Ħelwa said the authority had already gone against the local plans when it approved 11 floors and approving 16 storeys would be exceeding all limits.

It pointed out that the policy for high-rise buildings was being revised and insisted that "absolutely no permits" for such buildings should be considered until this process was over and people had been consulted.

When the original building plans were approved, Din l-Art Ħelwa had criticised the fact that while planning rules only allowed for eight floors or a "slight departure" from this height, the authority still gave its go-ahead for 11 storeys.

That height could not be considered as a slight departure from eight floors, let alone a maximum of 16 floors as was now proposed for the full development permit, the NGO argued.

"Sixteen storeys would be double the allowed limit, and can in no way be considered a slight departure from this limit," the NGO said.

The news comes after The Sunday Times recently reported that the project was at a standstill and that the marketing team had been fired.

One of the JPM Brothers directors, Jeffrey Montebello, denied that his company was facing problems financing the project and said that the project had been stalled by planning bureaucracy since the full development permit had still not been issued, just under a year after the preliminary green light was given.

But the planning authority denied it had hampered the development, saying that the application was submitted on December 24 and the relevant fees were only paid by the developer on March 30.