Sky’s the limit for seven hotels under new policy

The existing hotels that will be able to add an unlimited number of storeys under a newly-approved planning policy will be the Hilton, Westin, Corinthia San Gorg and Radisson hotels in St Julian’s, and possibly the Intercontinental Hotel, as well as the San Antonio and Dolmen hotels in Qawra.

The new policy allows all hotels inside development zones to add two new storeys over and above the height limitation permitted in their towns’ local plans.

But this height can breach the two-story limit if the hotel is on a site larger than 5,000 square metres, surrounded by existing or planned roads, or if the site accommodates standalone buildings.

Another planning policy that will regulate high-rise development over 10 storeys, can only be allowed on sites of over 5,000 square metres surrounded by four roads.

This means that standalone hotels will be privileged over other developments as they do not have to fulfill both these criteria, and may qualify for an unlimited number of storeys.

The new hotels policy may also benefit new hotels built in the development zone and outside urban conservation area confirming to any of the three criteria. High-rise development is not allowed on ridges.

In all cases, the resultant design must constitute a landmark building having “unique aesthetic characteristics within the urban context”.
A policy by the former administration allowed hotels in tourism zones to add not more than two storeys. The first hotel to benefit from the new policy, ratified by the Labour government in May 2013, was the San Antonio hotel, which had a pending permit to add two new floors.

The policy was prepared by a committee, which included MEPA officials and representatives of the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association and the Malta Tourism Authority.