Construction on db City Centre project suspended until appeal is decided

The construction of the db Group’s controversial City Centre project in Pembroke has been suspended pending the outcome of an appeal lodged against it.

The project, comprising a 38storey tower and 17-storey hotel, is set to occupy the former ITS site. It was approved 10-4 by the Planning Authority Board last September, despite the record 4,000-plus objections filed against it.

Following the projects approval, a fundraising campaign was launched by several NGOs and three local councils to cover the costs of lodging an appeal, with Moviment Graffitti saying that €24,350 had been collected.

Among other requests, the appellants asked for the temporary suspension of works, which was acceded to by the Tribunal for Appeals yesterday.

The appeal must now be heard and decided on within three months.

Among those against the project are Moviment Graffitti, Din lArt Ħelwa and the Pembroke, Swieqi and St Julian’s Local Councils. Pembroke Mayor Dean Hili was, in fact, one of the four to vote against its approval, together with PA chairman Vince Cassar, Nationalist Party representative Marthese Portelli, and the representative for eNGOs.

Further controversy arose following the projects approval after it emerged that the Planning Authority had hired a private jet to fly board member Jacqueline Gili to Malta to cast her vote. Alleged conflicts of interest concerning fellow board members Matthew Pace and Labour Party representative Clayton Bartolo have also raised eyebrows. Both have denied the allegations.