Part of a chapel complex in Rabat is being converted into a restaurant with the Curia’s blessing on the grounds that the revenue from the rent will finance the restoration of this place of worship.

Located in an urban conservation area the development involves the change of use of a courtyard measuring 120 square metres and a number of adjacent rooms, which are part of the Santa Marija ta’ Doni Church, also known as Ta’ Duna, in St Paul’s Street, Rabat.

Submitted in September 2016 by Arthur Vassallo and Can Kurtcu, who is the general manager of Ta’ Doni restaurant across the road, the application had been refused by the Planning Authority but the decision was subsequently overturned on appeal.

I cannot understand how the ecclesiastical authorities have accepted it

Sources told The Sunday Times of Malta that the development ruffled some feathers among the faithful who felt that such plan was a worrying precedent and not line with the Church’s pastoral mission.

“I cannot understand how the ecclesiastical authorities have accepted to lease a courtyard and adjacent rooms which are part of a place of worship, purely for commercial reasons,” they said. Furthermore, concern was also expressed that such two diverse activities might conflict with each other, due to possible disturbances generated by the restaurant.

Asked for his reaction a Curia spokesman insisted that the leasing agreement was limited to the yard and not the chapel itself.

The controversial move was justified on the grounds that “such initiative would contribute towards the ever-increasing costs for restoration and conservation of ecclesiastical heritage owned by the Archdiocese, which amounted to over €7 million over the last five years”.

The spokesman also pointed out that once restored, the Ta’ Doni chapel could serve its original purpose as a place of worship.

Meanwhile, work on the restaurant has reached an advanced stage and the yard’s boundary has already been modified with the opening of a door and two windows.

The planning permit was only granted following an appeal which the developer filed following the PA’s refusal in March last year. Such a decision was based on concerns about lack of accessibility, the adverse impact on an important heritage site, the visual impact of the proposed signage and on issues related to the restaurant’s ventilation system. However, when the case went for reconsideration before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal, the PA’s decision was overturned following changes in the plans submitted by the developer. A planning gain of €8,152 to compensate for the shortfall in seven parking spaces was also imposed on the restaurant owner.

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