Letter of Objection - Valletta Regeneration Plans

Letter of Objection - Valletta Regeneration Plans - Oggezzjoni ghall-Pjanijiet ta' Rigenerazzjoni tal-Belt hekk kif ippresentati

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The City Gate Project as proposed breaches the Structure Plan of the Maltese Islands which "acknowledges the special status of Valletta as a World Heritage site and…nominates Valletta as the principal Urban Conservation Area and therefore the conservation policies apply." "This is a very special place and has to be treated accordingly." I, the undersigned, therefore object to the plans as proposed since they violate MEPA's policies : BEN 2:"development will not normally be permitted if it is incompatible with the good urban design, natural heritage, and environmental characteristics of existing or planned adjacent uses, and is unlikely to maintain the good visual integrity of the area in which it is located and that there will be a presumption against development which does not generally observe the design guidelines issued by the Planning Authority for built-up areas." The project as proposed goes against Policy UCO 1 which declares Valletta as "an area of special architectural or historical interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve and enhance." The project as proposed does not comply with Structure Plan Policy UCO6 since it 'would detract from the overall objectives of the Structure Plan for the preservation and enhancement of buildings, spaces and townscapes within Urban Conservation Areas.' Furthermore Policy UCO 6 states: "Within Urban Conservation Areas, the basic objective will be to preserve and enhance all buildings, spaces, townscape and landscape which are of architectural or historical interest and generally to safeguard areas of high environmental quality and improve areas of low quality. The project as proposed does not comply with Structure Plan policy UCO8 which only permits "development in Urban Conservation Areas which is compatible with the existing character and urban design of the area." The building as proposed is not sympathetic with the adjoining buildings in terms of building line, height and style. The project as proposed does not comply with Structure Plan policy UCO10 in that it would adversely affect the Urban Conservation Area and detract from the traditional urban skyline. POLICY COM 1: "Parliament and the Ministries will concentrate in the palaces and auberges of Valletta." A project of this magnitude radically changes the character of the nation's capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage site and also affects the residents, visitors to Valletta, the elderly and Malta's cultural heritage. As such I therefore urge MEPA to refuse this application as presented and to invite the applicants to consider a revision of plans that would take into account the public feedback following a meaningful public consultation as well as the results of all the necessary studies and Environment Impact Assessments. In such a way, Valletta would benefit from a holistic regeneration project that would truly reflect the needs of Valletta's different areas, its residents, visitors, cultural and commercial community, as well as its status as Malta's Capital and World Heritage Site.

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