A planning application to build a beach lido on reclaimed land in Gżira is being recommended for approval.
The project is being proposed by four hotels – Bayview, Kennedy Nova, 115 The Strand and The Waterfront, all adjacent to the earmarked area – for their guests and paying users.
The present proposal, a downscaled version of the original that had been submitted to the planning authority, will cover an area of about 2,300 square metres. According to the outline application, expected to be discussed by the planning authority board tomorrow, the lido will include a swimming pool, a bathing area and two restaurants.
There will also be a children’s play area and garden for public use, spanning an area of about 300 square metres.
A two-metre-wide public passageway was recently included in the plans to allow access to the public, fishermen and boat owners.
The design of the restaurants was “improved”, respecting the openness of the existing promenade while “protecting important views towards Valletta and Manoel Island”, according to the developers.
The lido will include a swimming pool, a bathing area and two restaurants
However, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage still harbours concern on the visual impact the project would have from Valletta, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
It agreed with a series of mitigation measures, suggested by the developers, with regard to any archaeological remains that might be found during the works.
The case report on the project suggests a number of traffic measures along the Gżira promenade to improve road safety, including upgrading traffic signs, the regular pruning of vegetation to improve visibility of signage and signal heads, pavement maintenance and bus bays upgrade.