New plans submitted for abandoned hotel in Mellieha

New plans have been submitted on 12 May for the demolition of an abandoned hotel known as the Festival Hotel in Mellieha, located in the Sdieri area between the red tower and the boathouses in Mellieha.

The building is presently abandoned and has been filled with graffiti murals. The area where the development has been proposed lies in a buffer zone for an Area of Ecological Importance.

The application presented by Chris Mizzi was first presented in 1996 but has been dormant till new plans were submitted in May

The application presented by Chris Mizzi was first presented in 1996 but has been dormant till new plans were submitted in May. A previous application to refurbish the hotel presented by AX Holdings in 1993 had been withdrawn.

The latest plans foresee a 1,600 square-metre spa and hydrotherapy centre, twelve 65sq.m apartments with pools, a 260sq.m reception area, a 960sq.m physical rehabilitation centre, a 130sq.m bar, a 755sq.m conference room, a 621 m2 restaurant, a 115sq.m cuisine class and a 115sq.m library.

The building is presently abandoned and has been filled with graffiti murals

The North West Local Plan which regulates development in the area states that the re-development of existing tourist accommodation facilities in rural areas, will only be considered in very exceptional cases where the new proposal is for a hotel which has very high design quality and considerably improves the rural or coastal landscape. 

But “even in such rare cases, the increase in the number of beds or the intensification of the existing uses will not normally be favourably considered”.

A previous application to refurbish the hotel presented by AX Holdings in 1993 had been withdrawn