ENVIRONMENT

PA to decide on application proposing Grade 2 ‘Cloisters’ be turned into boutique hotel

The Planning Authority Board is set to discuss an application that will see a scheduled building in St Julian’s turned into a boutique hotel, and will also see apartments built on the land.

This full development application seeks permission for the restoration and conversion of an existing scheduled building into boutique hotel with 29 rooms.

“The site proposed for development consists of Grade 2 scheduled building known locally as ‘The Cloisters’, with an adjoining large garden. The site is located on a corner abutting Triq L-Imrabat, Triq is-Sorijiet and Triq Bonavita in St Julian’s, and lies within the Urban Conservation Area of the locality,” the Case Officer’s report read.

The application also includes the construction of blocks of apartments which will include two maisonettes (one 2-bedroom and one 3-bedroom), 24 apartments (seventeen 3-bedroom and seven 2-bedroom), 1 penthouse (3-bedroom), and underlying garages which accommodate 55 parking spaces.

The proposal, lies between three streets and consists of 13 levels, three of which will be underground basement levels.

The Case Officer’s report mentioned that, “the proposed residential blocks are at the rear of the scheduled building, behind the courtyard and along Triq isSorijiet and Triq Bonavita.”

The report notes that the demolition of structures within the site are not considered to be part of the scheduled building which merits retention and the internal modifications to the scheduled building are limited to interventions required by the proposed use.

“No concerns have been raised during consultations carried out in this application and the outline development permit. The proposal has also been endorsed by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage,” the Case Officer’s report read.

The Superintendence placed a number of conditions including that excavation works are to be archaeologically monitored in keeping with detailed conditions. In addition, restoration works are to be in keeping with the approved Restoration Method Statement.

The case officer has recommended the application for approval.

During the debate for the issuing of the outline development permit for the site back in March 2017, the FAA had made some strong objections to the proposal, even calling it overdevelopment.