Controversial 109-Unit Apartment Block On Mellieħa Green Lung Reportedly Approved By Planning Authority
The controversial plan to convert a green lung in Mellieħa Heights to a 109-unit apartment block was approved by the Planning Authority earlier today, according to the Times of Malta.
A three-person PA board unanimously approved the application despite concerns raised by residents and the Mellieħa Local Council. Chairperson Stephania Baldacchino and members Mireille Fsadni and Anthony Camilleri found the project to be in line with planning parameters.
The plans, spearheaded by developers T&S Property Holdings, intend to replace a green lung with 92 apartments and 17 penthouses split evenly across four floors, as well as 171 basement garages.
Just last month, NGO Il-Kollettiv organised a protest with residents demanding for the plans to be scrapped. Both Mellieħa mayor Gabriel Micallef and deputy mayor Matthew Borg Cuschieri supported the protest.
Il-Kollettiv also called for an investigation into Lands Minister Silvio Schembri for the dealings that led to the land acquisition of Mellieħa heights and St Julian’s (the Villa Rosa project) to two members of the Malta Developers Association.
The deal surrounding this project’s land sale raised eyebrows back in 2023 when the government sold the plot of land valued over €12 million on a 50-year perpetual revisable emphyteusis against a yearly payment of €380,000.
The deal stipulated that the winning bidder could redeem the emphyteusis within the first 15 years after a revision according to the rate of inflation.
T&S Property Holdings, led by Paul Attard and Paul Vella, who are directly involved with GAP Property and Ballut Blocks, were eventually awarded the tender.
The application for this development came soon after the land was transferred and was met with strong disapproval from residents and even Members of Parliament who supported a parliamentary petition against the development
plans.
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