PA approves controversial Excelsior hotel extension

The Planning Authority has approved an almost decade-old application for an extension to the Excelsior hotel in Floriana.

The application, PA/10444/18, was first submitted in 2018 but was recently revived with updated drawings and studies.

Applicants were proposing to build a new wing to the hotel, featuring 77 new guest rooms, together with a refurbishment of the outdoor pool and bar area. It is also proposing restoration works linked to the bastions.

When it was first submitted, the application had caused controversy, with the developer himself admitting that the development would impact Valletta’s skyline and bastions.

The proposal has since been scaled down from its initial plans for an additional 99 rooms, however several heritage NGOs flagged their concerns over the plans with UNESCO, arguing that it would be a “blight” on a World Heritage site.

However, the plans won the conditional approval of the superintendence of cultural heritage, after a heritage impact assessment, carried out last year.

The assessment concluded that the impact of the proposed development on World Heritage values ranged from negligible to moderate, describing the project as “of an acceptable level”.

In its feedback, the superintendence said the new drawings reflect earlier recommendations for building heights and volumes to be reduced and for no works to be carried out on the Quarantine Bastion.

In Thursday’s hearing, the applicants argued that the project had been downscaled, with a heritage impact assessment having received the blessing of the superintendence, with UNESCO and ICOMOS also approving plans.

The initial footprint of 4,470 square metres has now been reduced to 1,383 square metres, the project’s architect said, with building heights reduced from 8 to 6 floors.

The applicants said the heritage impact assessment had also assessed the project’s impact on the surrounding area.

‘The original hotel was a mistake, don’t make it worse’ objectors argue

Architect Edward Said, speaking on behalf of the Friends of Villa Frere, pointed to the widespread view that building the hotel in the first place, back in the 1960s, was a mistake.

“Saying we made a mistake, let’s forget it and add to the mistake, is absurd,” he said.

The original building, in 1965, led to Din l-Art Ħelwa being founded in the first place, he said.

The development would impact the viewpoint from Villa Frere, he said, reminding the board that this was a Grade 1 scheduled building.

Meanwhile, Din l-Art Ħelwa executive chair Patrick Calleja called for the decision to be postponed until Malta’s bid for fortifications to be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List is decided.

In its discussion, some PA board members raised concerns over the development adding “visual clutter” to the skyline, arguing that mistakes previously made when building the original hotel should not be exacerbated through this proposal.

Nevertheless, the proposal was ultimately approved with nine votes in favour and two against.