Permit for two 14-storey hotels in narrow Sliema alley overturned
The EPRT agreed with the objectors that the hotels should not be built on the site because it is mainly in a residential area.
Updated 8pm
A Planning Authority decision to grant a permit for two 14-storey hotels in a narrow Sliema alleyway has been overturned on appeal.
The Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) ruled in favour of dozens of individual objectors, as well as the Sliema local council, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar and Din l-Art Ħelwa, on Thursday.
In June 2024, the PA had granted permission to PA/3957/21, despite hotels not usually being allowed in residential areas. Architect Gilbert Bartolo had filed the application on behalf of Dale Spiteri.
The PA had pointed to the precedent of another hotel nearby and the fact that part of the hotel was in Sliema’s primary town centre.
That decision had gone against the case officer’s recommendation for refusal, as he argued the additional floors above the height limitation policy ran counter to local plans, even when considering the height limitation adjustment for hotels.
The three-star hotels would have been in an area featuring several old, neglected townhouses that still maintain their traditional façades.
The hotels would have featured an indoor pool, gym, spa, a self-imposed piazza along part of the site frontage on Zimmermann Barbaro Street, and an outdoor pool on the roof of each hotel.
In its deliberations, the EPRT agreed with the objectors’ argument that the hotels should not be built on the site because it is mainly in a residential area.
The EPRT also said that the buildings were too high for such a narrow alley and even when considering the policy that hotels can go higher than regular buildings.
Reacting to the news, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar coordinator Astrid Vella said this was a "huge victory" for civil society.
"When all seemed lost, when the PA committee defied its own Case Officer and broke its own regulations to issue an abusive permit, FAA and a few determined residents got together. These residents got others on board and with the invaluable input of Dr Darren Carabott and Perit Jesmond Mugliett, they succeeded in having this permit revoked," Vella said.
However, she questioned why the PA "betrayed" its remit to protect residents' quality of life.
"The demolition of the heritage buildings in Zimmermann Lane shows how our heritage is being destroyed by Government's refusal to suspend construction while under appeal."
Lawyer Darren Carabott appeared on behalf of the Sliema Local Council, eNGOs, and residents. He took over from the late Tanya Sciberras Camilleri.
Architect Jesmond Mugliett also appeared on behalf of the objectors.