Din l-Art Ħelwa files appeal for Mrieħel Towers

Din l-Art Ħelwa has filed an appeal before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal over the permit granted by the Planning Authority for the Mrieħel Towers project.

In a statement, the NGO reiterated its claims of the negative effects the development.

"With high-rise at Mrieħel, the historic skyline from Mdina to Valletta will be ruined forever. Allowing these skyscrapers to be built will create a precedent for more high-rise buildings in this area," the eNGO said. "It is shameful that the Planning Authority made no attempt to ensure  that correct visual images for this project were presented, nor considered the overall impact of a potential cluster of high-rise buildings in this location."

TumasGasan Holdings was granted a permit to build towers in Mrieħel on 4 August. The €70 million investment consists of four cylindrical tower blocks, comprising 16, 18, 20 and 14 storeys respectively, sitting on top of five basement levels.

According to the screening report by the Environment Protection Directorate, the project is likely to have a potential significant impact on landscape and visual amenity in the area, “including long-distance views given the site context and its location.” However, the screening report made no reference to any impact on the line of vision between Valletta and Mdina.

Din l-Art Ħelwa noted that the government had “slipped” Mrieħel into its high-rise policy document by stealth, without consulting the public as required by law. “The public was denied its right to participate in the decision.”

Din l-Art Helwa’s appeal is supported by Nature Trust Malta and the Malta Archaeological Society.

The organisation is being assisted on this case by lawyers Cedric Mifsud, Malcolm Mifsud and Catherine Mifsud.