Updated 4.30pm with Villa Rosa site owners statement

Malta’s hotel and restaurant lobby is concerned by plans to build three large towers at St George’s Bay, in a development that is expected to leave a large part of the bay in the shade. 

The Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association said that Paceville’s coastal area must be developed as a high-end tourist area and that any projects must not have an adverse impact on the bay. 

St George’s Bay is a Blue Flag beach on Paceville’s periphery. The project in question is being led by developer Anton Camilleri and envisages the construction of a 34-storey tower and two 27-storey buildings in an area that includes the current Villa Rosa grounds. 

An Environmental Impact Assessment published earlier this month concluded that the proposed project would have a major impact on the environment. The bay would be overshadowed by buildings from sunrise to around 3pm, the EIA calculated. 

In a statement on Saturday, the MHRA said it was concerned that such a development would jeapardise the bay’s status. 

“A beach which is left in the shadow is equivalent to having a house without any windows or doors,” the lobby group said as it called on authorities to ensure any development protects the bay.  

“MHRA believes that the bay has to complement the current and potential new high-end accommodation and entertainment projects present or set to be developed in the area,” it added, emphasising its wish for all development in the Paceville coastal area to adhere to a ‘Golden Mile’ vision of the area. 

Owners of Villa Rosa site reject claims 

The owners of the Villa Rosa site have strongly rejected claims by the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association that their project will shadow St George’s Bay throughout the year and throughout the day.

As seen in the EIA report’s (Appendix 6), the sun path studies show that St George’s Bay will only begin seeing shadows after 4pm during summer, and the shadow moves every hour.

During winter, the shadows created by the towers, are in line with the shadows that are already present on the bay due to developments built decades ago.

The developers are surprised by the reaction of MHRA since the project will strongly contribute to Malta’s touristic product.

The touristic project, which includes a public piazza of almost 11,000 sqm that will be privately maintained, has an interest in the beach being protected, untouched and fully enjoyable.  

A photo showing what the proposed development will look like.

The public pjazza will benefit all the touristic businesses in the area and will contribute to the government’s priority of increasing open spaces around Malta.

The developers urged the MHRA to ensure that St George’s Bay remains accessible for all, and not in any way occupied or taken over by third parties, even if those third parties form part of the MHRA council.