The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has approved changes to plans for the former Forum Hotel in Swieqi, increasing the amount of residential units and extending a new supermarket on site.
Developer Joe Portelli’s plans to demolish the 142-room hotel, which lies on an 11,300 square metre footprint, were originally approved in 2013. The initial proposal consisted of 25 houses, 78 apartments, office buildings, a supermarket and underlying parking spaces and lock-up garages.
The amendments approved yesterday will convert a number of the planned office spaces into residential units and provide for additional parking spaces, as well as a 1,998 sqare metre extension to the supermarket.
According to the project architect, the amendments would still keep to the same area and volume of the original proposal, which has a total built-up area of some 27,000 square metres.
The changes will add parking, convert office spaces into residential units and extend the planned supermarket
The case officer’s report noted that the change from offices to residential use was consistent with the previously approved residential area and would have a lower impact than what was previously approved.
The traffic impact assessment revealed that the existing junctions were sufficient to handle the increased traffic flow, and Transport Malta cleared the changes on the condition that works relating to additional road markings were carried out at the developer’s expense. When first proposed, the project raised objections from residents, particularly due to plans to introduce a new road opening to Triq L-Uqija to create access to the site.
Concerns revolved around problems of water run-off that could be created by increasing the road level. The project is exempt from an environmental impact assessment as it does not reach certain thresholds established by law.
Yesterday’s hearing proceeded smoothly with no objections from the public.
Board member Viktor Axiaq, who voted against the original proposal two years ago, reiterated his concerns over the environmental impact of the extensive excavations, but noted that as these had already been completed it would be pointless to object at this stage.
The board gave its unanimous approval but imposed a number of conditions, including that the nearby Greens supermarket be decommissioned before the new supermarket on site begins operations.