Crowdfund Launched To Pursue Legal Action Against Ġgantija Apartments Approval
A crowdfund has just been launched to raise money for legal action to revoke a permit for an apartment block mere metres away from the Ġgantija temples in Xagħra, Gozo.
The controversial permit, which has sparked outrage, was granted by the Planning Authority yesterday despite hundreds of objections.
The site is situated halfway between the Ġgantija temples and the historic Ta’ Kola Xagħra windmill, which is a Grade One scheduled building.
The crowdfunding page surfaced today, which was kickstarted by independent journalist Victor Borg together with the pro bono aid of lawyer Joseph Mizzi.
“I am doing this as a personal initiative as someone who lives in the area. I do not live on the same street as this development – at a personal level, I do not stand to gain or lose anything if this development goes ahead or not,” Borg wrote in the crowdfunding page.
“This is not just my area, this is the buffer zone of Ġgantija Temples – and that is everyone’s concern because Ġgantija is a World Heritage Site, and hence holds Outstanding Universal Value.”
Borg is arguing that the submission features a “fraudulent streetscape elevation”, which came after the applicant significantly downsized the plans, leading to the Planning Tribunal to favour the development.
“The Planning Development Act specifies that development permission can be revoked ‘in cases of fraud’ and it defines fraud as ‘the submission to the Planning Board of any information, declaration or plan on the basis of which the Planning Board has approved a development permission, where such information, declaration or plan is false’,” he explained.
The crowdfund is aiming to raise €1,875, and at the time of writing, €320 have been raised.
Donations can be made here.
In the 2021 permit application, developer Mark Xerri initially planned to demolish the existnig buildings and construct a new structure consisting of a maisonette with a swimming pool, two double-car garages on the ground floor, and six apartments spread across the first, second, and third floors on Triq il-Mitħna.
Additionally, they intended to include a penthouse on a recessed floor level.
At this stage, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage for Malta had strongly objected to the project, including Wirt Għawdex, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar and Din l-Art Ħelwa.
However, the project was revised a few months back, with the developer modifying the plans by eliminating the basement level that would have required excavation.
As a result of this change, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage withdrew its objections to the project.
Meanwhile, the Planning Authority has celebrated the approval, saying that “this residential development was downsized substantially and will not compromise the area of Archaeological importance in the vicinity of Ġgantija Temples”.
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