A social housing project in Cospicua will respect the area’s history and have more public space and brighter buildings following an outcry from local heritage experts.
The Social Solidarity Ministry has confirmed the change in plans following concerns raised last year by John Vella, curator at the Bir Mula Heritage museum.
Mr Vella told Times of Malta in May last year of his fears the project would increase crowding in the city, bring more social cases to the area and also damage historical structures in the vicinity.
But now a spokeswoman for the ministry says the 2002 plans for the project in the Santa Liena area of Cospicua have been amended to take note of the objections. Ministry officials met Mr Vella after his criticism, and architects subsequently developed new plans.
READ: Cospicua man battles to save historic buildings
The spokeswoman said onsite investigations also showed that the project would have no impact on an underground Byzantine chapel, one of the concerns raised by Mr Vella.
An investigation was also carried out to determine whether the project would destroy underground passages which Mr Vella had suggested were in the area.
“The underground passages mentioned were unknown to us and surely not mentioned anywhere at planning application stage prior to its approval in 2002,” the spokeswoman said.
A single passage was discovered behind a wall that was probably built in the 1960s or 1970s, she added. The passage, which seemed more akin to a cave, was flooded with water and blocked by debris.
“The cleaning operation took quite a while and was also hampered by the rain of re-cent months, but the Cleansing Department managed to clear the passage to a depth of around 15 metres,” she said, adding that further investigation was physically impossible.
The spokeswoman said that the passage would just touch the site perimeter and would be safeguarded during excavations.
The development stretches across Hanover, San Mark, l-Irlandiżi and Santa Liena Streets and forms part of government plans to develop more than 600 social housing units on 16 sites across the island.
In a letter to the ministry last month following another meeting with officials, Mr Vella congratulated the authorities for listening to the concerns of locals about the impact of the project.
“Contrary to the monstrosity and ugliness of a single, depressing block proposed in the past, the new plans indicate a project that respects the many elements desired in historical cities like Cospicua,” Mr Vella wrote.
He noted the green spaces introduced in the project, which will ensure brighter buildings. “Quality residences help cultivate quality communities,” Mr Vella said, expressing hope also that those responsible for allotting the housing units when they are finished would follow best practices, to avoid confronting a concentration of problems.
Mr Vella also congratulated the ministry for including a childcare facility and a community centre, which will be located in an old, restored house.
kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com