MIDI gets green light for tower block, residential apartments

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has approved the construction for MIDI's Tigné Point's T-14 tower block, and two 14-storey residential blocks, comprising just over 100 apartments.

The decision was taken at a public hearing, where objections were raised by members of conservationist NGO Flimkien Ghal-Ambjent Ahjar, who claimed the plans were changed without any opportunity for the public to see them.

MIDI's decision to withdraw an application for a massive high-rise tower in Tigné was accompanied by a request by the same company for MEPA to process two other applications for the construction of two high-rise, albeit smaller developments.

MIDI's decision to withdraw the application for the high-rise tower was welcomed by Din l-Art Helwa and the Sliema Residents' Association.

MEPA was informed of MIDI's decision to abort the tower proposal in a letter dated 4 August 2011. In this letter, MIDI announced their decision to withdraw with immediate effect the application presented in 2005 for the construction of a high-rise tower.

But in place of this development MIDI asked MEPA to process two other development applications presented in 2005 and 2010 respectively.

The first application is for the construction of the nine-storey high Block T14 which consists of a multi-storey office block including underlying car-parking and a business centre. Block T14 will provide a total of 16,620m2 of office space.

The second application is for the construction of two 14 storey high blocks known as T17. The application envisions the construction of two residential blocks consisting of 102 apartments and catering outlets at ground floor.

The sites allocated for Blocks T14 and T17 are located adjacent to the Garden Battery, which is located to the north-west of the Tigné Point Development Site.

According to the original outline development permit, building heights on the site of the two new developments were set at between five and 12 floors.