Smart Supermarket set for upgrade

One of Malta's first supermarkets, which opened its door to customers in 1981, at a time when the retail sector was still dominated by small grocers, is set for a major overhaul. It will involve the reconstruction of the Balzan supermarket in five phases over six years.

A proposed plan for the redevelopment of the Smart Shopping Complex envisions a new complex spread over nine levels - five below ground and four above.

This will involve the further excavation of the site from its current three levels below ground.

The layout will be improved and include a significant increase in floor space for other retail, a food court and on-site parking for 828 cars.

The site will be expanded to cover an area of approximately 9,730 m2, and the gross floor area will be increased to approximately 76,543 m2.

The redevelopment will see a significant increase in the provision of non-food-related retail floor space, to approximately 15,847 m2.

One of the major impacts of the project, according to an Environmental Impact Assessment, will be from the traffic it generates.

The results also show that the impact on nitrogen dioxide emissions will be negligible. With respect to particulate matter (PM10) emissions, the additional traffic is likely to result in slight or moderate increases.

The EIA proposes a travel plan to establish more sustainable travel patterns to the site and mitigate against potential future increases in traffic.

With regards to noise pollution, the major impact on nearby residences will be felt during the construction phase.

The plan provides for a wider shopping frontage along Triq in-Naxxar; this will be achieved through the demolition of existing properties. A substantial setback of the complex on the same side will result in the creation of a landscaped piazza.

The Triq in-Naxxar entrance will remain the main pedestrian access point and will provide vehicular access for customers as well.

The construction stage of the plan is expected to take approximately six years. The construction will be undertaken in four phases, in order to limit disruption to customers using the supermarket and existing shops. The existing complex is meant to remain operational throughout the construction period.

A retail impact assessment conducted in 2008 concluded that the development of the supermarket would be beneficial in retaining spending in central Malta, counterbalancing the current shift in the 'retail centre of gravity' to Sliema and Valletta.

The assessment showed that Sliema and Valletta remain the dominant shopping districts for clothes, footwear and leather goods.

Although Birkirkara, Mosta and other nearby town centres support a relatively high proportion of floor space for clothes, a significant amount of expenditure is leaking towards Sliema and Valletta.

Smart Supermarket opened in 1981 in the rather limited space of a shirt factory. The supermarket was last upgraded in 2000, through an Lm1.5 million investment project.