Developers eye Hamrun townhouses

Plans for the partial demolition of three characteristic Hamrun townhouses in the vicinity of San Gaetano parish church have been presented to the Planning Authority. 

The application foresees the demolition of existing properties “while retaining parts of the façade”, the construction of two levels of underground car park, and a basement floor dedicated to retail and four floors of offices.

The application was presented by landowner Paul Borg, whose previous application for a similar development was twice turned down by the Planning Authority in 2009 and 2011. 

Robert Sarsero, who is also a member of the PA’s Environment and Planning Review Tribunal – which hears appeals against PA decisions – is the project’s architect. Sarsero is replaced on the board whenever it hears a case in which he is involved as an architect.

The site earmarked for the new development is located in St Joseph High Road corner with Duke of Edinburgh Street. The buildings proposed for complete demolition fronting Duke of Edinburgh Street consist of two separate dwellings: two-storey and three-storey traditional buildings, located within a residential area zoned by the local plan. 

The corner site façade which will have two new storeys imposed on it will be retained – it consists of a two-storey traditional building which includes a shop at ground floor and an overlying residential unit. 

Back in 2009 the Heritage Advisory Committee – the PA’s internal heritage watchdog – had insisted that all the old townhouses in the area have architectural features worthy of retention and therefore all three facades had to be retained.

The application was rejected in 2010 because the proposed development, in terms of its floor area, was considered excessive and would have led to an overdevelopment of the site. 

Moreover the PA insisted that the townhouses in the area should be protected as a cluster: “a series of similar buildings incorporating important architectural elements which complement well with the streetscape”. The application is still at a preliminary stage and the Planning Authority still has to issue a screening letter evaluating whether the proposal conforms to existing policies.