The saga of the White Rocks complex took another turn today when the government issued a call for expressions of interest for its transformation into an upmarket real estate development.

Economic Affairs Minister Chris Cardona said the government wanted the area developed in a way which would benefit the economy through value-added activities, job creation and the development of human capital.

The development, he said, could include upmarket homes, luxury hotels of not less than five stars, luxury units or a high quality lifestyle community village.

The call is for concession to design, build and operate White Rocks Malta.

The total area of the concession is 449,885 square metres (45 hectares) of which 135,660 square metres are currently occupied by the White Rocks complex ruins.

The area known as the White Rocks, a prime site on the coast, North of Pembroke, has been rumbling on for years.

The White Rocks area was originally developed as married quarters by the British services. When the British left, the area was turned into a tourist complex.

It eventually closed down and was allowed to fall into ruins. Its only (official) use was for occasional urban warfare training by the military.

The Gonzi government had announced at a press conference in June 2010 that a UK firm was to turn it into an upscale €200 million sports village, but those plans never materialised. The project (on a smaller area than being proposed by the Labour government) would also have included some 300 apartments.

In May 2013, Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi said the proposed project was not  feasible, and contact with the would-be developers had ceased.

In November, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in parliament that a sports village would be built elsewhere and a fresh call for the development of the site would be issued.