Mepa urged to set height limitations for Valletta, Mdina
The extra storeys are seen just below the cathedral spires.
Heritage and environment NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar has welcomed the decision to reduce the height of the Drugs Court building and urged Mepa boards to ensure that the negative impact of the additional floors is reversed completely.
The NGO said it was urging the authorities to take this opportunity to establish once and for all, building height limitations for Valletta, Floriana, Mdina and the Three Cities.
It said the MEPA Board must ensure that all existing policies and regulations are taken into account, especially when the Case Officer’s recommendation is being overturned.
"Significant funds and aggravation would be saved if suitable modelling of building projects were carried out and assessed during the decision-taking process."
It said it was concerned that the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage were not being consulted on all cases of a sensitive nature, especially in Valletta, Floriana, Mdina and the Three Cities.
Moreover site inspections by these bodies are essential to make a realistic assessment of the impact that proposed works are likely to have. It should be made obligatory that in all sensitive urban conservation areas, the input of the Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee and of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage was taken into account in the final decision.
"If these measures were to be implemented, this regrettable case would at least have a positive outcome."
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Catherine Sciberras
Feb 11th, 19:02
Thanks to the environmental watchguard groups. If they weren't on their toes, Malta would be raped by the strongmen.
Can anyone tell me what the height limitations for St Paul's Bay are? Why aren't buildings that exceed this height pulled down? The sun has almost disappeared from the promenade at Thalaselejn and from the surrounding streets!!!
Joe Grech
Feb 10th, 20:22
This was an unacceptable environmental blunder which serves to show the complete laissez faire of this administration. They present themselves as environmental champions; then events show them for what they really are: irresponsible and inefficient dolts unable to safeguard Malta's environment and heritage.
Mark Azzopardi
Feb 10th, 13:49
Why only Valletta and Mdina? Other picturesque villages such as Gharghur are being ruined too. Why not there also and in other old villages around Malta and Gozo?
Astrid Vella
Feb 10th, 17:26
Mr. Azzopardi, every town and village in Malta has established height limitations set by MEPA other than the most ones that need it most, ie Valletta, Floriana, Mdina and the Three Cities!
James Tyrrell
Feb 10th, 13:48
Once again Flimkien ghal-Ambjent Ahjar have fought for the protection of Malta's heritage and won. Well done to everyone concerned because I dread to think what the country would look like without these people working tirelessly behind the scenes. It was also good to see Din l-Art Helwa supporting them in this particular fight although given the fact that they have openly supported the City Gate project which will have a detrimental effect on Valletta a UNESCO City of Culture I think they really need to evaluate their stance with regard to the protection of the country's heritage.
George Vella
Feb 10th, 13:45
I fully agree, yet the flag in the photo is also out of proportin. This is happening in the towns and villages of Malta and Gozo. Such flag poles should have a MEPA permit, apart from the danger they carry.
Julian Mompalao de Piro
Feb 10th, 13:22
With currently available 3D software it is possible to have a clear visual of the impact of any proposed building. Models are not necessary.
John Azzopoardi
Feb 10th, 11:48
This should have happened a long time ago. But in Malta and Gozo everything is in piecemeal. What a big shame. New and old buildings in the Mdina and Valletta cities should not go together. Besides setting limits, one should also make a law to use old stones for building purposes in those towns. that way, it will all be harmonized.
john vella
Feb 10th, 11:24
Sorry to ask!
If my memory serve me right, it was claimed with pomp at one point in time not so long ago by the N.P. in government that government was going to buy the Savoy building adjacent to the Courts to add space to the Law Court. Of course we all know what happened. Nothing.
Now that this new project is excepted as a silly planned block in the sky and such a structure was built with the blessing from those concerned, no sooner it has been finished it will be pulled down to be raised elsewhere what is costing us tax payers.
Is there anyone accountable?
Narcy Calamatta
Feb 10th, 10:21
The suggestion of having a scale model built of proposed new buildings in sensitive areas is a wise one. Such models cost a fair amount of expense and work. In the long run they would cost much less than a disputed project. Perhaps every local council should have a model of its own village built and hired out for the use of architects who need to prove the environmental impact of their proposed new buildings. This nation-wide activity would generate work for artistic creative people coming out of MCAST or the Malta University architecture faculty. Eventually this activity should raise a bleep on the GDP figures and increase self-employment. I wish all concerned good success.
sharon farrugia
Feb 10th, 09:51
Il-Ministru tal-Gustizja ser jerfa' ir-responsabilita u jirrezenja? Min ser ihallas ghal din l-ispiza zejda? Il-Ministru approva dan il-bini? Leeeeeeeeee ma ghandux ragun Dr. Franco Debono. Farsa ohra ta' min inghata promozjoni.
Mark Caruana
Feb 10th, 11:26
@ Sharon Farrugia. Leave partisan politics out please. The ex Minister for Justice has nothing to do with MEPA. Please leave one news site where the public can submit his complaints without resorting to partisan politics.
william cauchi
Feb 10th, 12:12
Sabiha din Mark Caruana, so if i build 3 extra floors on my house and this creates a big rumpus, than i have nothing to do with it. Me, no.
Even if this building had the friendly and atrocious blessing of our dear Mepa, even the village idiot would have known that creating such an eyesore in a supposedly Unesco World Heritage site would create a few problems.
The real problem is that how were 3 whole extra floors built and everybody was looking the other way. Where these invisible.
Mark Caruana
Feb 10th, 15:50
@ William Cauchi......Excuse me can you tell me the link between the height limitations of buildings, the ex minister of justice and the MEPA? We are talking alternatives and suggestions here. Can we as people suggest without resorting to attack? I think in this country the reason why we don't listen is that we shout too much.
william cauchi
Feb 11th, 11:02
@Mark Caruana....my comments have nothing to do with politics, or height limitations, or alternatives or suggestions
I am talking about simple common sense. Do you think that adding three floors in the center of a World Heritage Site, that stand out like sore thumb, is common sense?
If that doesn't bother you than we are a sorry lot. I am not attacking anybody, i am talking about a system that should protect us from all this, before it actually happens and not take action only when a big rumpus is created.
Mr Ernest Vella
Feb 10th, 09:45
Jiena nahseb ghandu jsir limits anke fl-irhula...ghax min fejn sa fejn qabel kien jidher il-bahar min Haz-Zebbug u issa gew jibnu dak il-bini gholi...sahansitra iktar mill-Kampnar tal-Knisja gholi...ghax kuntent jien kulhadd kuntent.
Astrid Vella
Feb 10th, 17:25
Mr. Vella everywhere in Malta has established height limitations set by MEPA other than Valletta, Floriana, Mdina and the Three Cities, that is why we have raised this issue.
The MEPA regulations state that buildings should not block the views to and from the Urban Conservation Area. If they have risen higher than the church in Zebbug, then obviously that regulation is being ignored, that's why we need sound height regulations, not ones drawn up to benefit speculators.
Victor Rodenas
Feb 10th, 09:03
The tailor has to make the dress according to the measurments of the person, otherwise the dress will not fit and will look odd.Cutting here and there after the dress is ready makes the tailor unproffesional.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Feb 10th, 09:01
MEPA should commission 3D models of our major heritage cities together with the appropriate software so that any proposed new development can be inserted into this model to better study and understand the effect of any new accretion. This will help to anticipate the visual impact which any addition will have on the skyline and cityscape balance from the different viewpoints and perspectives. Such software should then be made available to planners and architects at a nominal fee so that a 3D model will have to be submitted with every planning application.
Jay Oatmon
Feb 10th, 08:40
My question is why not build a purpose built modern large set of court buildings in the Marsa area - where there are many places ripe for re-development.
Is this plan a 'non runner' because a lot of the politicians are also lawyers and it would inconvenience them to have to go to Marsa?
Jimmy Magro
Feb 10th, 10:56
And if a new law court is ever planned, the height of the chambers do not be to be such as those on the second level of our current law courts. Dignity in the court room is not ontained by the height of the chamber, but by the wisdom of the Bench, in making sure that there is full respect to the law, consistency in sentencing and no behind the door deals.
Mark Caruana
Feb 10th, 08:37
It is good to set height limitations on heritage cities. It will also be good to establish a height criteria to residential zones before the initial building permit is issued and not alter height limitation after the buildings have been complteted causing major inconvenience (apart losses) to residents who already occupy such buildings. Apart from that MEPA does not have a criteria when the building must be completed. This should be part and parcel of the building permit. Most buildings are being left bare after permit has been issued and are left in shell form for years causing eyesores in the strets and roads of the country. Most of these buildings inlict damages to neighbouring dwellings with resultant never ending court cases. This is unfair on residents who have invested their hard earned money on their dwellings. This is an ongoing abuse by some developers who have no respect for the residents.
Victor Rodenas
Feb 10th, 10:18
In Swieqi the permit before was for terraced houses and maisonettes,now it is a concrete jungle.
K Zammit
Feb 10th, 08:35
Height limitation should not be limited only to specific cities because of cultural heritage. There are several other places that have been ruined in Malta. Marsaskala is a case in point. It has become a real concrete and aluminium jungle and it seems that this disaster has no way of stopping. Looking up at the buildings from the promenade is a proper eye sore and permissions are still being granted and storeys being added. And most of them empty and derelict because it seems that there is no way of them being sold. A real shame. Then we say that there is no other place like Malta!!! True other countries are much more careful about the aesthetics of their country!!
Astrid Vella
Feb 10th, 10:07
Mr. Zammit everywhere in Malta has established height limitations set by MEPA other than Valletta, Floriana, Mdina and the Three Cities, that is why we have raised this issue.
Having said that, we regard many of the 2006 height limitations as being abusive, as they are set too high in narrow streets in violation of the Police code which establishes the height of buildings in proportion to the width of the street - a building can't be more than 3 times the width of the street. In Sliema we have lanes of three metres which have gone up to 9 floors!
Marsaskala is similarly ruined by towering buildings engulfing homes beneath, when many cities abroad are limited to 5 or 6 floors on wide boulevards! The public cannot be blamed for thinking that many instances of inappropriate heights were set in order to accommodate particular building interests.
Mark Caruana
Feb 10th, 11:20
I completely agree. Marsaskala was turned from a pictoresque village to a concrete jungle without respect. To add insult to injury apartment height limitation was raised after initial building permits when more than half of the apartments were and are still unoccupied leaving developers making life hell to most residents.
Lawrence Fenech
Feb 10th, 08:28
Issa wara li il-MEPA harbtet il-Belt bil barka ta' Gonzi u imliet Malta b'hamas sulari kullimkien ser niehdu il-passi, halluna.
Joseph Camilleri
Feb 10th, 09:23
bil-barka ta' Gonzi? u dik ta' Roderick Galdes ukoll nimmagina?
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Feb 10th, 16:37
Sorry Mr. Joseph Camilleri. It is with the blessing of GonzoPartitNegattiv. You are imagining wrongly as it is not with the blessing of Roderick Galdes. Don't argue as the Nationalists has been doing for years. That is, it is everybodies' fault but not that of the PN Governments.