Mistra Village development still on the cards

The controversial development of Mistra Village is still very much on the cards, as an application to renew a previously accepted one has been filed with the Planning Authority.

The re-development of Mistra Village, according to the Planning Application which was filed on 12 July, would see the construction of a residential complex consisting of four blocks including supportive commercial activities with underlying basements for private parking. It also proposes the development of public open spaces, landscaped gardens and a communal pool.

The original application for the re-development dates back to 2008, but the project was never carried out. Reports at the time put the troubles down to funding issues.

The application in 2008 was to create 744 residential units, as well as 1,800 square metres for retail purposes, 990 square metres for restaurants and 150 square metres of office space. The original approved application envisaged six rectangular blocks terraced to rise to a maximum of 12 floors from street level.

At the time, Din l-Art Helwa (DLH) had already expressed its strong disagreement with the decision taken by MEPA in 2009 to approve the outline permit. Their comments referred to the project’s increased building height. They argued that the project lies on such a high ridge that it is highly visible when one heads for the northern part of the islands and lies in an area of high scenic value near a Natura 2000 site.

Back in 2013, DLH said: “Malta loses on Xemxija Ridge irrespective of the short-term gain for the economy.” Din l-Art Helwa had maintained back then that the outline permit granted in 2008 gave misleading and incomplete information to the former MEPA board and demanded the revocation of this permit citing Article 77 of the Environment and Planning Act. The request for revocation of the outline permit by the NGO was thrown out by the chairman Vincent Cassar. In 2013, Mr Cassar had stated that the Board had considered the request and found it to be legally unjustified.

Yet the development never took place, and the Law Courts eventually upheld a request to suspend the judicial sale of the site, during a dispute between JPM Brothers and the Kuwait company Al Massaleh Real Estate Co (AML).

A renewal application has now been filed before the old permit expires.