Four extra storeys for iconic Savoy hill house

Three extra storeys and a penthouse have been approved on an iconic existing two-storey townhouse in the corner between Triq Reggie Miller and Rue d’Argens in Gzira.   

While the façade of the existing building will be retained, the PA has allowed the internal demolition of the house and the addition of four floors above existing levels.

The building will now accommodate a basement garage and 10 new residential apartments and a penthouse.

The increase in heights was approved in two stages. The first permit, which follows the height limitation set in the local plan, was issued in June 2015 and foresaw two new floors and a penthouse. The development was approved, despite the dissenting vote of Dr Charles Grech.  

The additional development was deemed to complement the existing façade.

The second permit issued last Wednesday was to turn the penthouse level into a full storey and to construct a penthouse on it.  

The latest change to the height of the building is justified by the design guidelines approved last year. These guidelines translated the height in floors found in the local plan to a height in metres. That means that while previously developers could not build any more floors than the maximum allowable in the local plan, they can now edge up higher as long as they stay within the maximum height in metres. 

The facade of the building was retained because it lies within a design priority area but the rest of the building was deemed not to have any architectural value. The proposal foresees the uprooting of two trees located in the front garden of the townhouse. The trees do not belong to any protected species and will make way for another entrance to the building.