New rules allow ‘summary’ demolition of Gzira townhouse

A characteristic townhouse in Gzira is to be demolished to make way for the construction of 12 apartments over six floors and a penthouse, with only the ground floor’s façade will be retained.

The building in the corner between Triq L-Empire Stadium and Triq San Gorg lies outside Gzira’s urban conservation area and was therefore exempt from a full planning process.

The application was approved in 42 days.

The building lies outside Gzira’s urban conservation area and was therefore exempt from a full planning process

According to rules approved last year, blocks of up to 16 apartments on such sites are now subject to the new “summary procedure”, which shortens the period of public consultation from three to two weeks and eliminates the need of a public hearing and a full case officer report.

In this case, the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage was still consulted and gave its blessing to the building’s demolition. 

The application claims that the new building will be built in the same  “architectural grammar” of the original building.

But heritage watchdog Din l-Art Helwa still objected to the proposal, insisting that the proposal should have been modified to retain the existing building fabric and the retention of the whole facade. The development will result in a shortfall of 13 parking spaces.