AD attack Portomaso for flouting development permit

The Portomaso project developers have defended their decision to add 25 new apartments to the original designs and are insisting that any alterations being carried out were within the confines of the permit.

But Alternattiva Demokratika shares different views and has called on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to refuse to sanction the 25 apartments, which it has described as illegal.

"The developers constructed the new apartments even though they were never included in the plans submitted to the authorities. Only now are they asking for permission from MEPA," AD spokesperson for Tourism and Civil Society Michael Briguglio said.

It was unacceptable for developers to keep flouting regulations, he said.

He also argued that the increase in the overall number of apartments would result in more pressure on the infrastructure, which could also necessitate the construction of more roads in the area, to the detriment of residents who live near Portomaso.

"The way the Portomaso development project was handled has already been described by the Ombudsman as a case of bad administration that does not give due importance to the national interest," AD said.

AD said it hoped that such bad administration would not prevail once again to the detriment of the residents of Paceville, Mr Briguglio said.

"Construction has been going on for years - Portomaso is causing too much inconvenience to residents."

To rub salt into the wounds, Mr Briguglio said, a fence has been constructed, forbidding the public from the right to swim in the area.

When contacted, a spokesman for Portomaso told The Sunday Times he expected MEPA to grant the necessary permits in the coming days.

He said the original permit granted by the Planning Authority had established the height and footprint of the building - something which has been abided by.

"But this was a big project which necessitated certain modifications along the years," the spokesman said.

In fact, three additional storeys to the Portomaso tower were approved by the authority later.

The apartments were originally designed to cover a footprint of 250 square metres each, but there has been increasing demand for smaller apartments. Others, on the other hand, wanted even larger ones and the necessary arrangements were made to combine two apartments into one.

He said that the building was built on reinforced concrete frames which were easy to modify.

The spokesman pointed out that 25 apartments would roughly equate with two apartment blocks on Tower Road.

"In our case, we are not expanding onto an unspoilt area but merely expanding within."

The spokesman dismissed comments that the additional apartments would be a strain on the infrastructure.

"A new loop road is being built adjacent to Spinola Road - which is renowned for its bottlenecks - and this would ease traffic congestion in the area.

"Besides, we have enough substations in place to cater for any increase in electricity demand."