A planning application has been submitted for a new high-rise development on the site of The Palms in St Julian’s, the latest in a long-running series of attempts to develop the well-known wedding venue.
The application, published by the Planning Authority this week, seeks to demolish the existing buildings and build a 16-storey tower and a separate, terraced development rising to between 12 and 16 storeys.
The primarily residential development will include underlying basement parking, commercial space, general landscaping and an open central plaza.
The site is at the edge of the Urban Conservation Area, with access through Birkirkara Hill and the narrow Ciantar Alley, and sits atop an undeveloped valley.
The project seeksto build a 16-storey tower and a terraced development rising 12 to 16 storeys
While public consultation has just opened, one concerned resident told the Times of Malta the proposal would be completely out of context and to the detriment of the surrounding area.
This is the third such attempt to develop the site, with the previous two having proved controversial, but the first since the introduction of the new high-rise policy in 2014. The same developers applied in 2007 to construct 347 new apartments, 24 penthouses and 359 garages over six lower tower blocks, three rising to nine or 10 storeys and the other to seven.
Residents at the time expressed concern over the massive traffic impact of the proposed development on the narrow surrounding roads and overshadowing of the mostly two- and three-storey houses in the area. The proposal was later withdrawn by the developer.
An earlier application in 2004 envisioned a four-block complex with towers of 19, nine, five and four storeys. This proposal was also abandoned amid strong public opposition.
News of the latest application comes in the midst of a row between the St Julian’s local council and the central government over the impact on residents of construction works in the same area.
The council has criticised the decision to issue permits for night-time works to be carried out on a site in Birkirkara Road which it said had been made without consultation and caused unacceptable inconvenience to residents.
The authorities have argued that Birkirkara Road is currently a major road artery due to the works being carried out in connection with the project on the Kappara Junction.