Żabbar mayor slams new home for the elderly as 'rape' of the locality
Jorge Grech argues development is 'horrific' and out of scale
Updated November 28 with PA comments
The Labour mayor of Żabbar on Thursday slammed the approved home for the elderly in the town square, saying the "horrific" project would “rape” the locality.
In a scathing Facebook post, Jorge Grech argued that the development was a “destruction” imposed on the community which would “permanently erase the identity and character of our city”.
He criticised the “lack of planning” that led to the approval of a five-storey home for the elderly at Misraħ tal-Madonna Medjatriċi and Triq Ganni Bonavia, across from the parish church.
“Our locality has been raped by this horrific development and lack of planning, with the blessing and authorisation of the Planning Commission.”
Grech pointed out that the council had unanimously disagreed with the application PA/01617/24 “from day one, for several reasons”.
The building was originally meant to have seven storeys but this was revised down to five. The council argued that any buildings higher than three storeys next to the Żabbar Sanctuary Museum “is severely detrimental to the predominant character of the church located in one of Malta’s most beautiful streets and its finest squares, adorned and designed in classical architecture”.
The council strongly objected to the lack of adequate parking for workers, services and visitors, pointing out that the project would substantially reduce the number of existing parking spaces in Medjatriċi Square and Triq Ġanni Bonavia.
“This development will create several blank high walls and supports overlooking nearby residents, which will be visible from various areas and significant locations,” Grech said.
He pointed out that existing policies have “left the door open” for two further floors to be added, bringing the total to seven as originally planned.
The plan, submitted by Daniel Zahra through architect James Bonnici Camilleri, is to demolish a two-storey building while retaining the façade to construct the home for the elderly.
In a statement, the Planning Authority said the height of the home complies with the provisions of the local plan and had been reduced from approximately 23 metres to 17.5 metres.
"Furthermore, the existing façade is being retained, and the design has been carefully followed to create a sense of continuity within the piazza," it said.
"This approval reflects the established planning parameters for the locality and ensures that the development remains sensitive to its surroundings".