Valletta’s old fish market earmarked for boutique hotel

An Environment and Development Brief issued by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority envisages the rehabilitation of the Barriera Wharf area in Valletta: plans which envisage the development of a boutique hotel as well as retail shops and pontoons for powerboats.

According to a document issued for public consultation, the proposed development along Barriera Wharf will funded through private financing and investment.

Consequently, once the development brief for the project is approved, Grand Harbour Regeneration Company intends to launch a call for expressions of interest for private bidders and/or consortia who may be interested or participating in undertaking this "ambitious" project.

The brief proposes the demolition of the former ministry building built in the 1950s. The building will be replaced by a three-storey building, which will house the boutique hotel's bedroom suites, a fitness club (gym and spa facilities) and a roof level panoramic swimming pool.

The project also envisages the restoration, conservation and rehabilitation of the Pixkerija, which will house the boutique hotel's lobby and atrium. The Pixkerija is a Grade 2 scheduled building, which cannot be demolished. MEPA has already issued a permit to transfer the fish market to Marsa.

The external area between the pixkerija and the ex-Ministry building will be roofed. The former Ministry Building and the Pixkerija are both located on the waterfront and they have spectacular views of the Grand Harbour and the
Three Cities.

Also demolished will be a British Period Annex and its replacement by retail facilities and offices.

A pedestrian underpass along the Barrier Wharf ring road is also being propped to link Barriera Wharf to the Mediterranean Conference

Centre. This will provide safe and unhindered access to hotel patrons from the main hotel building in the Pixkerija to the conference/banqueting facilities in the Caraffa Stores on the other side of the ring road.

Another aspect of the project is the restoration, conservation and rehabilitation of the former Quarantine Hospital and its conversion into retail facilities. A heritage trail connecting the Barriera Wharf waterfront to the Lower Barrakka Garden level in Valletta is also proposed.

The vaults within the Magazzini della Barriera (Caraffa Stores) will be restored to be used as conference facilities.

The provision of temporary floating pontoons for mooring of powerboats is also being proposed in the Barriera wharf key.