Controversial Work Carried Out On Balzan Historic Townhouses By Ċaqnu Confirmed As Illegal
According to a recent court ruling, all reconstruction work carried out on the four townhouses in Balzan by Charles Polidano (Iċ-Ċaqnu) was illegal.
One of the four townhouses, a 300-year-old palazzo, dates back to the times of the knights, and was allegedly used by Grand Master De Rohan as his country residence.
The construction magnate Polidano, who is known as ‘Iċ-Ċaqnu’, had been issued two enforcement notices, in 2013, after he had demolished a part of the building, and allegedly uprooted a tree.
Despite the developer being fined €100,000, the Planning Authority (PA) had still approved the project.
The court dealt with two appeals brought forward by Polidano after the Environment Planning and Review Tribunal revoked this permit that was issued in 2014.
“The tribunal ruled that the illegalities, covered by two enforcement notices, should have automatically excluded the application from being considered,” the Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti confirmed.
The chief justice stated that the illegal activities conducted by Polidano prior to the approval of the planning application should have been addressed before the Planning Authority even considered the application.
Polidano had proceeded to construct a large swimming pool within the grounds of the 300-year-old palazzo.
Construction came to a halt only after he received notification that the Environment and Planning Review had withdrawn the permit.
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