Mriehel towers to create shortfall of 500 parking spaces

A case officer report is recommending the approval of four high-rise towers in Mriehel belonging to the Gasan and Tumas groups, despite studies showing that the project will result in a parking shortfall of 498 parking spaces, which would be in breach of policy.

The policy on tall buildings approved by the government in 2014 states clearly that high-rise developments must provide all car-parking requirements on site. Whenever this is not technically possible these should provide parking facilities not more than 250 metres away from the site of the development.

In the Mriehel case, the proposed development will provide 1,065 parking spaces, which is 498 short of the 1,563 required on a normal working day.

The Mriehel Towers project consists of four cylindrical tower blocks, comprising 16, 18, 20 and 14 storeys, sitting on top of five basement levels.

A decision on the project will be taken on 30 June, just one week after the PA’s decision on a 38 storey tower block proposed by the Gasan Group in Sliema – which is due to be handed down tomorrow.

The Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) justifies this under-provision of parking spaces by the commitment taken by the developer to encourage alternative models of transport as part of the requirements for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

As part of this commitment the development includes the provision of 105 bicycle racks and 54 preferential parking spaces will be allocated for car sharing initiatives.  

However the TIA notes, “these measures alone are unlikely to result in a significant modal shift.” Therefore an improvement in public transport services is deemed to be essential. The developer is being expected to take a commitment to organise collective transport for employees for a period of five years.

The erection of four high-rise towers at Mriehel is expected to result in a daily increase of 1,362 cars a day passing from Triq l-Imdina, according to the Environment Impact Statement on the impact of the proposed towers by Tumas and Gasan Groups.

To ease traffic pressures a traffic underpass from the northbound Dawret l-Imriehel carriageway with Triq l-Intonjatur is being proposed.

The application for the mega development was presented in October 2014 by the Tumas and Gasan groups, who are also partners in the ElectroGas power station consortium, on a site adjacent to that of the present Gasan head office on the Mriehel bypass.

Mriehel was not included among the localities that will be considered for high-rise buildings of over 10 storeys, when a policy regulating building heights was first issued for public consultation in November 2013. This meant that the public never had any chance to comment on the choice of this site.

But then Mriehel was added to the list just before the policy was approved in June.

The Water Services Corporation has asked the developers to submit an insurance policy covering €2.47 million in possible damages to the sewage infrastructure and for a contingency plan should the sewage gallery in the area collapse.