I refer to recent correspondence regarding approved construction works at Manikata church.

The case officer report on the application for a development permit records the advice given by the Heritage Planning Unit within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority as follows:

“Manikata parish church is considered to be one of Malta’s only outstanding examples of Modernist church architecture in Malta and contains extremely high architectural significance and thus is proposed for Grade 1 scheduling.

“The existing car park and recent other illegal works on the site of the proposed work already detract from the significance of the building and further interventions within the area will further diminish its value and thus the original intent of the design. Therefore proposal also runs counter to Structure Plan Policy UCO7.”

So there was clear justification for the application to be refused by the deciding body. The only remedy now is for Mepa to issue an emergency conservation order requiring the illegal works to be removed and schedule the building thus stopping any further development on site.

I am informed that neither the Heritage Advisory Committee within Mepa nor the Cultural Heritage Commission of the Curia were given the opportunity to give their advice on the proposed development.