Historic Balzan building among four proposed for demolition

Balzan council is backing residents' objections to a proposed project to knock down four old townhouses in the village core to make way for six terraced houses with swimming pools.

Construction magnate Charles Polidano is seeking permission from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to go ahead with the development in Main Street.

Din L-Art Ħelwa has objected to the project, claiming that at least one of the properties is over 300- years-old and had been used by Grand Master De Rohan as his country residence.

Residents had until today to make their representations to Mepa in writing. They are insisting that the application be "refused outright", not least because it falls within Balzan's urban conservation area.

The residents quoted Mepa's policies, among them one which regulated applications for development in urban conservation areas in Attard, Balzan and Lija. This states that "Mepa will not consider any development or redevelopment proposals that create new, independent residential and non-residential units, including garages for the parking of vehicles".

Residents said the proposed project would have a direct negative impact on the character of the Balzan village core, and will increase traffic and parking problems.

The ramp from Main Street leading to an underground parking area would also disrupt the streetscape and be detrimental to the visual integrity of the area, the residents said in their letter to Mepa.

This is the third time that a project has been proposed on this site. The first application filed in March 2003 requested a permit to make alterations to a façade and demolish the rest of the buildings.

In September that year, the Mepa board refused the application and eventual appeals and requests for reconsiderations, with the last refusal in May 2004.

Just over a year later, in December 2005, Mr Polidano filed an application proposing to rehabilitate two townhouses and adjoining gardens and develop residential units with underground parking facilities. The plan was to construct 43 apartments and an underground car park for 121 cars in one of Balzan's characteristic private gardens.

In April 2007, the Mepa board refused the application but the developer appealed against the decision.

The fresh plans were also shot down by Balzan historian Carmel Bezzina, who insisted that the proposed development breached a policy included in the Central Malta Local Plan, which is intended to protect gardens and open spaces in Balzan.

Mr Bezzina also claimed the developer had already removed trees and other features from the gardens of the townhouses which he is proposing to demolish.

"The area in question, which forms part of the Balzan village core, is very sensitive and is surrounded by buildings which are over 300- years-old.

"Heavy works, such as those that would take place in the excavation and construction phase, will endanger such structures," he said. Mr Bezzina referred to the previous two similar applications saying that "... for the sake of consistency, and since no new policies have been approved which allow this type of development, Mepa should refuse this particular application outright".

Balzan councillor Trevor Degiorgio said the council was also objecting to the proposed project and had written to Mepa expressing its concerns and objections.

Several attempts to contact the developers for a comment were unsuccessful.