Development spills into Sacred Heart area

The quaint residential area in the vicinity of the Sacred Heart convent in St Julian’s is set for more construction activity.

After approving a massive eight-storey block in the garden of the Cloisters, a stately building in Mrabat Street, the Planning Authority has approved a six-storey apartment block instead of an old, two-storey building located further uphill on Triq is-Sorrijiet.

Originally the project proposed by Core Properties Limited, envisioned the complete demolition and re-construction of the existing two-storey building over 382 square metres and its substitution with a five-storey block with a receded sixth floor.

Part of the building fronting Sacred Heart street will be demolished due to some of its architectural feature

But following the intervention of the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, part of the building fronting Sacred Heart street will be demolished due to some of its architectural features.

The case officer contends that the other part of the site which will be demolished has no “traditional architectural features that are worthy of retention and the streetscape has already been compromised by recent development”.

The PA has also recently approved four new stories on the façade of the two-storey Casa Pinto guesthouse in Sacred Heart Street.