More than 370 people and organisations have flooded the Planning Authority with objections to the proposed development of a hotel on the Delimara coastline.

The mass of objection comes after activists under the banner #SaveDelimara launched a campaign urging the public to oppose the plans to redevelop a dilapidated hotel in Kalanka Bay into an “ecological boutique hotel” with luxury suites, a bar and restaurant and public beach facilities.

The application also seeks to create a controversial link to the bay below by excavating a new tunnel from the hotel to the beach facilities, which environmental studies found would have a major effect on the integrity and stability of the cliff.

“Digging deeper into the plans reveals that this is just another project by greedy developers that ruins Maltese natural landscapes and coastlines while making some big money out of it,” the #SaveDelimara campaign says on its website, listing several grounds for objection.

The campaign is backed by environmental NGOs including Moviment Graffitti, Kamp Emerġenza Ambjent and Front Ħarsien ODZ.

Objectors who wrote in to the PA argued that the proposed hotel, which is outside development zones, will increase the current built footprint and have a negative impact on the site, which is scheduled as an Area of High Landscape Value and an Area of Ecological Importance.

Other complaints centre on the closing off of an existing coastal footpath and the visual impact, as well as the resulting influx of people, noise and light pollution.

“Please leave this beautiful spot alone,” one objector wrote.

“If you allow planning permission, it will change beyond recognition. It is a peaceful and enjoyable space for many; develop it and it becomes a place for the few. Not every spot in Malta needs to be developed.”

An environment impact assessment carried out by independent consultants ADI found the project would have a major impact on the rural landscape by introducing a larger and taller hotel building with “a modern form more in keeping with an urban setting”.

The study concluded that the physical interventions to the cliff to provide the tunnel and beach facilities, as well as the increased activity on the rocky beach, would result in a “large change in the coastal landscape”.

Concerns were also raised about the major visual impact of the new structure from the north-eastward and westward perspectives of Delimara Point.

The large, modern building will be seen to “dominate” the site and break the skyline.

Public consultation on the project is open until August 4.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.