'Floriana in demographic crisis as it risks becoming town of memories-' council

The Floriana local council says the town is in a “demographic crisis” as homes and apartments are purchased to convert into short-lets and offices, while the resident population gets smaller.

“Without urgent national action, Floriana risks becoming a town of memories rather than a living community,” deputy mayor James Aaron Ellul said.

Ellul recently prepared a document that says without action, Floriana’s population will continue shrinking, particularly its Maltese residents.

Measures to encourage the use of vacant properties for residential purposes, incentives for young families to settle in the locality, and a regeneration plan that preserves Floriana’s historic and social identity are among the council’s proposals to tackle the problem.

Another issue is that buildings are old and so incentives to restore them are needed, Ellul said.

The document was unanimously endorsed by the Floriana local council.

In a statement, the council said it has been meeting stakeholders, including other councils and the MCESD’s Civil Society Committee.

Contacted for comment, Ellul said that during the day more than 5,000 tourists and workers go to Floriana.

“But the people who live and sleep in Floriana—those who strengthen our community and identity—are constantly shrinking,” he said.

In 2012, 1,959 Maltese residents lived in Floriana. In 2024, that number shrank to 1,566.

However, the total number of residents has increased slightly from 2,168 to 2,383. That increase is due to more foreigners moving to Floriana.

Ellul said that there are foreigners in Floriana who have integrated into town life, but he felt there were not enough integration programmes and initiatives.

Another issue, he said, is that many residents in the town are elderly.

“In Floriana, there are far more funerals than baptisms. This does not only mean that our population is getting smaller at a fast rate, but also means that the population which actively participates in town life is even smaller.”

During a meeting this week with the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, mayor Nigel Holland said Floriana’s local plan is often ignored.

He said development for non-residential purposes in residential zones is being allowed.

Speaking on Sunday, Ellul added that besides the significant amount of real estate taken up by short-lets, large parcels of land in Floriana are used by government entities.

“The education ministry, the transport ministry and its surroundings, the polyclinic, and other buildings are all huge tracts of land where people do not live,” he said.