In U-turn, Pembroke council to vote against db Group expansion plan
Councillors initially pledged to vote in favour of plans in exchange for €3m community 'investment' by db Group
Updated 2.50pm with db comment
Pembroke’s local council will vote against plans by db Group to add more floors to its mega-development in St George’s Bay, in a U-turn from an earlier decision taken in July.
In an urgent meeting held on Wednesday, the council unanimously agreed to vote against the proposal in a Planning Authority meeting that was scheduled to take place on Thursday, but got postponed.
Councillors had previously agreed to vote in favour of the proposed extension, in return for a €3 million payment from db Group, which would be used on local community projects.
The council’s stance was widely panned by residents, who said they felt “betrayed” and called for a full and public account of all meetings, communications, or exchanged held with the db Group by councillors.
In a climb down on Wednesday, Pembroke mayor Kaylon Zammit said the council had a duty to respect the wishes of the locality’s residents.
Zammit however said he still “believes” in the promised €3 million investment by db Group, which he said was meant to compensate residents for the inconvenience brought about by the development.
Zammit indicated that with the council now opposing db Group’s expansion plans, the promised €3 million investment will have to be “re-negotiated”.
“We will do our utmost to ensure the investment still takes place. The scope behind this investment was to give something back to the community. I am convinced that it we sit around a table [with db Group], will be able to get this investment back,” the mayor said.
However a db Group spokesperson later informed Times of Malta that even if the local council objects to the development, the company still intends to pay the council €3 million.
“Our intention was never to bind the council for approval but to contribute to the community,” the spokesperson said.
db Group already holds a permit to build two 17- and 18-storey towers alongside a hotel. However, the company has filed a fresh application to extend the towers to 23 and 25 floors respectively.
In July, Pembroke local council voted unanimously not to oppose the project in return for €3 million that will be spent on a new building that will have a library, a childcare centre, a multipurpose hall and a clinic.
It will also help fund an underground car park for residents on Triq Pietru D’Armenia, with a park covering around 2,000 square metres on top.