Joseph Portelli is dismantling two historic niches in Qormi, and here's why

Workers engaged by mega developer Joseph Portelli raised eyebrows on Tuesday when they were seen dismantling a large, historic stone niche with a statue of St Paul at the corner of a plot of land in Qormi.

Several people immediately took to social media demanding answers from the Planning Authority, the BCA and the cultural heritage watchdog as to why the centuries-old shrine was being torn down. Others thought it must be a work of artificial intelligence, because who in their right mind would do such a thing?

A review of planning documents, however, shows that the niche will be restored and incorporated in a new Portelli development on the site that was approved a few months ago (PA/01922/25).

St Paul overlooking a congested junction

The niche, which is believed to have been constructed around the end of the 18th century, overlooks the busy - and often congested - corner of the Qormi valley that leads to the Mrieħel roundabout.

It was built into the corner of a perimeter wall that enclosed a plot of land that has not been built up yet.

It is a relatively large parcel of land, part of which is in an urban conservation area. It overlooks three streets – Triq il-Wied, Triq San Pawl and Triq San Franġisk.

The niche overlooks a busy and, often congested, junction in the Qormi valley. Photo: Google Earth

The activity around the long-standing niche also raised questions about another niche, similarly placed at the other corner of the same plot, featuring a statue of St Joseph. Social media users asked whether that, too, would be taken down.

It will be, albeit temporarily, as Joseph Portelli prepares to erect his next development.

Niches to be restored and retained

Portelli has acquired planning permits to develop the plot into four terraced houses, nine apartments at first, second and third floors, a penthouse, seven garages and a class 4B shop at ground floor level.

The two-storey houses will be built on the UCA part of the plot while an adjacent 4+1 apartment block will be erected on Triq il-Wied, outside of the UCA.

The apartment block will be directly next to the terraced houses which will be built on the edge of the UCA. Photo: PA website

During the planning process the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage (SCH) was not too keen on the proposed development and remained “unfavourable” to it till the application was approved.

But it did give its green light on condition that the project retains the niches and the statues and incorporates them in the facades of the terraced houses.

Planning documents show both niches will be put back in their original corners. They will be reconstructed at a slightly higher level than they previously were.

The niches will be put back in their original places at the corners of what will now become a series of terraced houses in UCA. Photo: PA website

Among the objectors at the planning stage was Din L-Art Ħelwa. The NGO raised concerns about the impact of the height of the apartment block which will sit directly adjacent to UCA buildings and about the disruption of the character of the niches in the area. 

Both niches are included in the country’s official register of heritage assets, known as the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. The inventory is managed by the SCH and includes everything from the megalithic temples to roadside shrines and public niches. These assets are afforded a higher level of protection, especially from new development.

Planning documents indicate the niches will be fixed at a slightly higher level than they originally were. Photo: PA website