The dilapidated 16th century Lazzaretto complex at Manoel Island is going to be fully restored with parts of the former isolation hospital converted into flats, offices and a casino.
The planning authority has granted a full development permit for the project, which forms part of the Midi project.
Built by the Knights, the complex was used as a quarantine hospital for passengers, animals and merchandise to prevent the introduction of epidemics on the island. In World War II it was converted into a submarine base.
The project will entail extensive restoration works and the rebuilding of a second, intermediate floor in certain parts of the building for flats, offices, a casino and a car park.
The board heard that all the interventions were acceptable and sensitive to the cultural and historical value of the site.
A number of structures built during the post-war period of no architectural, historical or contextual value will be removed. Meanwhile, the planning authority also gave a full development permit for 102 apartments in two blocks and a separate block of offices in the Tigné complex in Sliema, a move criticised by NGOs.
Following the discovery of the Garden Battery, a 19th century fort, on the northern part of the site, the urban spaces, building heights and block configuration originally approved in the outline application had to be redesigned.
The footprint of the blocks was reduced, limiting them to the areas not taken up by the Garden Battery.
The authority noted there was no need for an environmental update on the social and air quality impact because the volume of floor space did not change from the one approved in the 1999 outline development permit.
The board’s decision to approve the three blocks was harshly criticised by the Sliema Residents Association and Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar.
They queried why high-rise apartment blocks were approved when the planning policies for high-rise developments had not been ratified.
Also, the 1992 local plan had warned against more apartment blocks being built in Sliema because it was already over-congested.