Seven hotels have been given permission to build additional storeys following the relaxation of height limitation for hotels rated as three-star or above.
“This development translates to an investment of €50 million from the private sector and will create some 450 jobs,” Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said yesterday.
Through the policy, which came into force last August, hotels may apply to build not more than two additional floors over and above the height limitation permitted in the local plan.
However, further storeys can be considered if the hotel’s footprint is at least 5,000 square metres, if it is surrounded by existing or planned roads, or if it is a stand alone building.
Though none of the permits were issued for hotels in the south of the island, planning authority CEO Johann Buttigieg highlighted that an application for a new hotel on the site of the former Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsascala was filed.
An application has been filed for a new hotel at the former Jerma Palace Hotel
He also said that talks were under way for the total redevelopment of the Corinthia Marina and Corinthia San Ġorġ Hotels in St Julian’s. There are 13 applications for boutique hotels in Valletta.
The hotels granted the permit to build additional storeys are Intercontinental, Radisson Blue, Hugo’s Express, Hugo’s and Holiday Inn Express in St Julian’s, San Antonio in Qawra and a hotel in Marsalforn, Gozo.
Dr Zammit Lewis also highlighted the fact these permits were processed in just four months without compromising standards.
The next step would be to introduce a one-stop shop through which all relevant applications and licences are handled simultaneously. A total of €400,000 has been invested to upgrade IT facilities at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, Michael Falzon, said the policy reflected the coordinated approach taken by the government.
He clarified that the relaxation of height limits did not apply for hotels located outside development zones whereas in urban conservation areas there were a number of restrictions.