New plans submitted for Dwejra eyesore

The concrete pillars which form part of the half-built controversial Dwejra centre are to be removed if the Malta Environment and Planning Authority accepts a set of recently-submitted amended plans.

The developer submitted fresh plans to Mepa this month to amend the appearance of the eyesore shell-like structure, which has been left untouched since March 2008.

The construction of the centre, which is part of a heritage management plan for the area approved in 2005, was stopped half-way through after Mepa said it would be investigating "possible deviations from the approved plans".

A Mepa spokesman said the developer had now submitted an amended set of plans for the structure, which were a great improvement on what was originally submitted.

Under the amended plans, the concrete pillars would be removed and replaced by a wooden structure which would look like a terraced roof. It is not clear if the structure will be any smaller, however.

The structure, intended to become the Dwejra Interpretation Centre, was part of a heritage management plan for the area approved in 2005.

The approved plan comprised a series of conservation measures for the area, but it also controversially sanctioned a number of illegal boathouses.

Under the approved plans, the developer was obliged to produce a structure that could be dismantled and he had suggested the erection of a wooden building bolted to a metal structure.

However, when the cost of the metal structure was deemed to be prohibitive, the frame was made out of concrete instead.