Land reclamation sought for lido along Sliema seafront opposite Manoel Island

Three companies have applied to reclaim land along the Sliema seafront to build a large lido facing Manoel Island.

The development application, filed on April 7, includes land reclamation to make way for a lido with an outdoor swimming pool, sun deck, two buildings to accommodate ancillary facilities to a pool, Class 4D restaurants and a play area.

The area is adjacent to one of the most popular walking spots, leading from Sliema to Gżira. Should the permit be given the green light, it will partially conceal the views of Manoel Island, which has been earmarked as a public park. 

The application was filed by Strand Lido Ltd, LAMHCO and Sea Pebbles Ltd. According to the business registry, The Strand Lido is owned by Carmel Farrugia, Daniel Farrugia and Joseph Casha. Sea Pebbles is owned by Joseph and Josephine Casha.

The proposal is to build the lido adjacent to the popular promenade. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Daniel Farrugia is the partner of Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar. He also owns the Londoners Pubs franchise. Joseph Casha also owns Medasia.

Meanwhile, LAMHCO is a Malta-Libya government investment firm. The Libyan Arab Maltese Holdings Company Limited was set up in 1975 for major investments in manufacturing and hospitality, and has a portfolio of companies worth in excess of €40 million. 

It was political party Momentum that sounded the alarm on this development application on Saturday. In a statement, the candidates in the 10th District said the project would deprive Sliema residents of public land and the coast.

“Not content with having already destroyed the peculiar characteristics of Sliema, greedy developers want to continue in the footsteps of their predecessors and deprive the Sliema residents and Maltese citizens in general of the public land which we all own,” candidate Pierre Schembri Wismayer said.

Party leader Arnold Cassola said the proposal is particularly scandalous given the company’s “close relations” with an MP.

“We at Momentum say it clearly in our manifesto, soon to be fully published: No public land or sea is ever to be given away or sold for private commercial profit.”

Land had also been reclaimed for another controversial lido close to the same promenade, partly owned by mega developer Michael Stivala.