Xagħra Apartment Block Within 300 Metres Of Ġgantija UNESCO Site Approved By PA
The Planning Authority has approved plans for a three-storey apartment block situated within less than 250 metres from the UNESCO heritage site of Ġgantija in Xagħra, Gozo.
The approval comes despite years of objections from residents, activists, and even local organisations, warning of the dangerous precedent that such an approval would set in a historically sensitive area.
The site is situated halfway between the Ġgantija temples and the historic Ta’ Kola Xagħra windmill, which is a Grade One scheduled building.
“If the plans are approved by the PA, the block will forever ruin the skyline of this UNESCO world heritage site, apart from the possibility of damaging any discoveries that might be invaluable to us as a nation,” they had stressed.
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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