PN adviser involved in Ġgantija Heights project his party called ‘scandalous’

A top Nationalist Party (PN) adviser is the registered site technical officer of a recently approved 22-apartment block near Ġgantija temples, a project the same party previously described as “scandalous”.

Simon Mizzi, who is in charge of ‘Leadership Delivery’ within the PN, is listed as the site technical officer of PA/570/21.

The Planning Authority (PA) approved the controversial structure in April following a long saga. Demolition of an old farmhouse at the development began last week, sparking widespread outrage.

Those works were temporarily stopped by the Building and Construction Authority last week. The BCA issued a stop works notice because the works being carried out were not in accordance with the demolition method statement provided as part of the development.

When contacted, Mizzi said his role in the development had nothing to do with heritage issues and his job never enters into the merits of whether a permit is in line with planning policy.

“That is the role of the planning officers and architects. On request of the Planning Authority at consultation phase, I am commissioned by the client to indicate the suitability of the development from sanitary engineering and other safety aspects, such as fire safety. That is where my involvement started, way back in 2021, long before the controversy started in 2023.”

The PN confirmed his professional role predated his role as leadership delivery officer and that Mizzi has never in any way influenced or tried to influence opinions expressed by the PN on the matter.

It stressed that Mizzi does not hold a statutory position in the party.

“His role exclusively deals with meeting promises laid out by the leader of the party. Simon Mizzi is not a PN official or, indeed, employed by the PN and he serves his role purely on a voluntary basis. He volunteers at the party’s discretion, that is, where and if needed,” a party spokesperson said. 

“His professional role predates his role as Leadership Delivery Officer and has nothing to do with planning or heritage aspects of the mentioned project. His role is solely restricted to engineering aspects of the project,” the party spokesperson added.

The spokesperson pointed out that the PN’s efforts on the plans led to a heritage impact assessment (HIA) being carried out. 

“It was the PN which insisted that an HIA study be carried out for this particular permit. On the back of such insistence, an HIA was carried out, which provided recommendations but did not object to the project.” 

Through its then shadow ministers Julie Zahra and Stanley Zammit, the PN had, in November 2023, described the project as “scandalous”. 

Then party leader Bernard Grech also criticised the development, urging the government to “take action” to ensure the world-heritage Ġgantija temples in Gozo are protected from any risk of development within their UNESCO buffer zone. 

At one point, UNESCO weighed in, calling for a Heritage Impact Assessment of the project.

Despite the pressure, the project went ahead.  By a 10 to one vote, the PA gave its final approval of plans to build the block of flats and 20 basement garages within the buffer zone of Ġgantija Temples in Xagħra earlier this year. An NGO representative was the only board member to oppose the plan. 

It had already approved the controversial application, PA/00570/21, in 2023, before an appeal led to the permit being revoked pending a heritage impact assessment by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH).

That assessment was concluded in February and the SCH said shortly afterwards it had no further objections to the plans, following revised drawings in line with the impact assessment submitted by the developers.

However, a coalition of NGOs criticised the decision, calling it “deeply questionable” following an examination of its reasoning.