Planning Board approves Imperial Hotel conversion into elderly home

The Imperial Hotel in Sliema will be converted into an elderly home after the Planning Board approved planning permission for restoration and redevelopment works to be carried out.

Works on the 1865 Victorian style building will consist in the restoration and conservation of the forefront of the building, which constitutes the Imperial Hotel’s original building fabric, and the redevelopment of the remaining property to incorporate 171 bedrooms together with a 104 underground car park facility.

The Sliema local council had objected to the original proposal for the site, highlighting the historic value of the building and called for further assessment of the proposed partial demolition.

However, the Planning Authority said the redeveloped façades on St Mary Street and Church Street have an approved design which is compatible with the existing, proposed Grade 2 scheduled façade on Rudolph Street.

The redeveloped façades have an approved design which is compatible with the existing, proposed Grade 2 scheduled façade on Rudolph Street

It added that the Sliema local council was represented on the Board and noted that its earlier concerns had been addressed in revised drawings. Thus, the council found no objection to the latest proposal, the PA said. The Superintendent of Cultural Heritage also found no objection to the proposal.

The works will also include the demolition and redevelopment of internal areas and the façades on St Mary Street and Church Street, both of which do not have any particular features worth retaining, the PA said.

The Planning Board also approved planning permission for restoration works to continue on the early 19th century coastal Garden battery located along the Tigne coast within the MIDI project.

The approved restoration works seek to address the deterioration mechanisms present on site. According to the PA, such mechanisms are typical of buildings constructed entirely of globigerina limestone, and those constructed of concrete which is exposed to the elements for a substantial period of time.