High-Rise And New Road Planned For Muscat Motors Site In Gżira
A redevelopment is proposed for the historic Muscat Motors site in Gżira, involving partial demolition, a mixed-use high-rise, and a new road.
This new road would linking Triq Rue d’Argens to Triq Luqa Briffa. The plan is under review by the Planning Authority according to Times of Malta.
The application, filed under PA/03846/08, is for an outline development permission — meaning many details remain to be fleshed out in later submissions. The site sits close to other significant developments: it is a stone’s throw from the 23-storey ST Tower, opposite the yet-to-be developed 33-storey Metropolis Tower, and near high-rise office blocks in the area.
The existing Muscat Motors showroom is a landmark in Gżira, characterised by rounded edges and corner windows, an example of the Streamline Moderne style. It was designed by Joseph Colombo. The showroom stands on the site of Muscat Garage (built 1934), and the business is among Malta’s oldest car distributors.
In 2012, the showroom was scheduled as a Grade 2 building, giving it some heritage protection. The current proprietor of the site is Mizzi Estate, managed by Christopher Mizzi. The architect listed on the application is Edwin Mintoff.
The development drawings divide the site (excluding a third-party parcel) into four zones spanning 6,605 m². Zone 1, about 3,026 m², is intended as “public space” under the floor area ratio scheme. Within this zone, roughly 1,026 m² is earmarked for the proposed high-rise.
A new road, covering 854 m², would be cut through the site, linking Triq Rue d’Argens to Triq Luqa Briffa and separating Zone 1 from Zones 2 and 4. Zone 2 is set to host a more conventional 7-storey mixed commercial and office building, acting as a buffer to blank walls of adjacent third-party property (Zone 3, which is excluded from the development).
Zone 4 would retain the existing BMW showroom building, with a wall over the new road designed as a frontage.
The high-rise portion is intended as a 35-storey, 130.6-metre mixed-use tower containing offices, hotel space, and residential units, surrounded by a landscaped open plaza. A two-metre buffer is proposed between Zone 1 and the scheduled Muscat Motors building.
The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage has flagged the architectural and historical value of the existing building. While the showroom was remodelled in the 1950s, it is still regarded as having very high architectural value. The proximity of the Fawwara Gate, a Grade 1 scheduled archway abutting the façade along Triq l-Imsida, is also a key concern.
The central workshop of Muscat Motors, which functioned during WWII and reportedly serviced Spitfires, is of historical interest. The superintendence has requested photomontages from various viewpoints, including the University of Malta and Cottonera, to judge the visual impact of the scheme. Some documents referenced in review comments are not currently available on the Planning Authority’s website, prompting inquiries about transparency.
Other entities have raised issues as well. Transport Malta insists a vehicular access point must be clearly shown, and more details should be provided about the proposed road. The Malta Tourism Authority has said it will comment once full detailed plans are submitted.
The environmental advocacy group Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) strongly opposes the proposal. They argue that it risks devaluing a local architectural landmark while worsening traffic congestion in an area already heavily burdened. They also point out that no carrying capacity studies have been presented to show whether infrastructure and liveability can cope with such development.
Further concerns include the environmental impact, energy use, pollution, drainage, and sustainability, especially in light of Malta’s obligations on climate and emissions reductions. FAA maintains that building more high-rises in dense areas contradicts environmental and quality-of-life goals.
Because this is only an outline application, more detailed plans and specifications must still be submitted and assessed. The Planning Authority will consider stakeholder feedback, heritage assessments, technical studies, and visual impact analyses before reaching a decision.
Key issues to watch include how much of the historic building will be preserved, whether the new road is deemed acceptable, the compatibility of the tower’s scale with the surrounding area, and the adequacy of measures addressing traffic, utilities, and the environment.
This proposal represents a significant moment in the urban evolution of Gżira, balancing heritage conservation, density, and modern development pressures.
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Credit: Muscats Motors
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