Corinthia submits plans for tourism-residential resort at former Ħal-Ferħ site

Corinthia Hotels submitted plans to build a low-lying, highly landscaped resort on the site currently occupied by the disused Hal Ferh Holiday Complex, the company said in a statement.

The development will comprise a 5-star hotel having 162 keys as well as 25 hotel-serviced residences.

The site is located in the coastal rural area within the Pwales Valley at the south-western part of the Mellieħa local council area. The site lies to the east of the popular sandy beach of Golden Bay, Radisson SAS Golden Sands Resort and the Golden Sands public car park.

The proposed resort and residences will be low-density and rise to one and two storeys.

“Designed by award-winning architect Martin Xuereb, the scheme will pay homage to traditional Maltese architecture interpreted in a contemporary style,” the company’s statement read.

Corinthia said it intended to ensure that the project is a showcase for best practices in sustainability and environmental sensitivity.

The 83,000m2 site was, for decades, used as a military camp for the UK forces in Malta, and subsequently as a tourist complex.

The resort was eventually shut down and privatised in 2009, subject to a Development Brief which set strict parameters with regard to the permissible redevelopment on the site, including limiting the building footprint to 20% of the area, and not allowing for more than two storeys.

The Development Brief was updated recently to allow for a partial change in land use in order to include 25 serviced branded residences, whilst retaining tourism as the principal use.

“This is in line with trends globally in the high-end hospitality sector across resort destinations in the Mediterranean and beyond,” the company statement read.

The group submitted these plans to amend a previously approved permit to reflect the updated designs and the 25 services villas.

The project entails the creation of 320 parking spaces adjacent to the site in an area owned by the scouts, which was already approved. The site will also include parking beneath the hotel, and the residential units will have their own parking facilities.

Corinthia Chairman, Alfred Pisani said: “We will create a world class product that matches all that we are doing as a brand globally in the luxury sector. We are aiming at setting a new benchmark for the island.”