Behind the new development
What everyone seems to have been afraid of was to take up the challenge of drafting a masterplan and defending the choices made in the inevitable public discussion there will be. And then coming up with a detailed plan and starting work.
Those coming from the South will see, when they move down cemetery hill, two or three huge cranes, standing still and rusty, from the old Malta Shipbuilding site, today dwarfed by the new seven flyovers being constructed.
When the huge development is ready, in some months’ time, the old cranes, standing like prehistoric pterodactyls will look even more of a relic than they do now.
Some years ago, a call for expression of interest regarding the Shipbuilding site was issued and a contract signed. But otherwise than a concert held in that space, nothing more seems to have happened.
Earlier still, in PN times, an plan was floated regarding the whole inner harbour area together with the Marsamxett side. There was some initial discussion whether all industrial enterprises should be eased out of gthe Grand Harbour or whether the whole area was ripe for property development but, again, nothing came of it.
When the old power station was dismantled, calls were made for expressions of interest regarding the best use of the site and students of architecture even held an exhibition with their interesting suggestions. But, again, nothing came of it.
When we have such a national debate on development with a national protest taking place on Saturday, here is a site, the inner reach of the Grand Harbour that is ripe for development and yet lies neglected.
Other countries, with far more space, beat us to it. Hamburg, for instance, has turned most of its harbour into high quality development. So too did London with the regeneration of the Thames from the Tower of London to Greenwich.
What everyone seems to have been afraid of was to take up the challenge of drafting a masterplan and defending the choices made in the inevitable public discussion there will be. And then coming up with a detailed plan and starting work.
Even the Marsamxett side could do with improvement. In fact, in that earlier plan the regeneration of the Valletta side was envisioned together with more space for cruiseliners should the Grand Harbour prove too small. Plus the construction of a much-needed breakwater.
So far, the dominant philosophy, if we may call it that, seems to be to allow the private sector full freedom to come up with projects and to create a building boom. Controls have become lax and planning permits are being issued with abandon. New building projects can be found in most streets. Old and not so old houses are being pulled down and apartment blocks built instead.
But this prime site – the
Grand Harbour and secondarily Marsamxett Harbour – wallow in neglect when it could be turned, just as other parts of it were – the Vittoriosa waterfront and the Valletta waterfront.
At this point where we are almost at mid-legislature, maybe it is too late to undertake such a longterm plan. But that is precisely why we must look long-term.
After all, look at the Manoel Island and Tigne redevelopment – after so many long years, they are still far from ready, certainly on the Manoel Island side.
And in case somebody thinks we are proposing a replica of Tigne for the Grand Harbour and il-Menqa, that is precisely what we are not proposing. It is only if the government takes up the challenge to draw up a masterplan and ensure it is kept, that it can be saved from the ravages of extreme private sector development.