Plans For ‘Hamlet’ With Villas And Apartments Close To Protected Mensija Chapel
Plans to develop land close to the historically significant and protected Mensija Chapel have been resurrected, with a cluster of villas now being envisaged for the 2,100 or so square metre site, as reported by Malta Independent.
Documents have been shared with residents of the area by developer Matthew Bianchi and architect Ray Demicoli. Their revised plan is to build an apartment block with a height that is in line with existing developments and a further eight villas behind the block.
A previous request for the development of the area was made by an associate of Gozo mega-developer Joseph Portelli. It was refused by the Planning Authority in 2019. The new plans for the area have not been filed as a planning application just yet. However, a Planning Control application has been filed for an eight metre wide road which would service the villas which are envisioned as part of the project.
The developers told the residents that the project objective is for the development to “consist of thoughtfully designed apartments and villas” with the apartments designed in a way that they would terrace down towards the cave and feature planted greenery so to integrate with the natural landscape.
The developers went on to say that they aim “to retain the character of Mensija by increasing trees and landscaping” and to offer “a project where families can enjoy a pleasant and friendly environment.” Additionally, the height of the apartments proposed to residents is “substantially less than allowable” according to the DC-15 development guidelines. The developers claim that this is to “minimise the impact on the general landscape” and to protect the cave as much as possible through the safest methods possible.
“Proposed development will lead to an increase in development density and a loss of openness,” NGO Din L-Art Helwa said “This would result in a far greater extent of the site being developed, which land was intended to remain open to contribute positively towards the amenity of the area as unbuilt open space.”
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