Għargħur farmhouse redevelopment set for approval despite heritage concerns

A small Għargħur farmhouse could be replaced by two modern homes with pools and garages, after a Planning Authority case officer recommended the project go ahead, despite warnings from the heritage watchdog.

For 66-year-old farmer Joe Debono, who has spent his life cultivating the surrounding land, the development threatens to erase not just a historic building but a way of life passed down through generations.

The plan involves knocking down parts of the old farmhouse and building two new houses in its place. The PA case officer gave the green light earlier this month, although the superintendence of cultural heritage (SCH) is opposed.

In its latest objection, the SCH said the proposal would lead to “extensive demolition” of valuable vernacular architecture and “intensive redevelopment”. It said the new buildings failed to respect the site’s historic and natural surroundings, and the original context of the site would disappear, with only one traditional space left intact.

During the site visit, residents greeted members of the Planning Authority Commission and expressed their opposition to the development plans. Photo: Daniel Ellul.

The case officer, however, argued that key architectural features, such as kileb (corbels), mwieżeb (waterspouts), mxatar (stone mangers) and xorok (stone roof slabs), would be dismantled and relocated in one of the modern houses. Earlier this month, the case officer suggested it should be approved.

The site lies inside an urban conservation area and partly outside the development zone.

Originally, the owner, Matthew Navarro, had applied to build four townhouses but he then scaled down the plans to two houses. Times of Malta previously reported how Navarro has been advertising the property for sale on Facebook and claimed to have already sold two of the original four proposed properties.

The final decision now rests with the Planning Authority Commission, which visited the site back in February.

During that visit, several Għargħur residents turned up to express their opposition to the development plans.

Architect and resident Patrick Calleja said the plans would damage the character of the area. He said residents have had to obey strict rules when planning minor changes to their properties.

“And now, all of a sudden, there’s an application to build four houses,” he said.

For now, the plot remains a quiet stretch of tilled fields.