This morning, a press conference was held near Tal-Virtù, Rabat, by a united group of concerned residents to express firm opposition to a proposed development that would “spell ruin to the unique rural and historical character of the area”.
The proposed development, application PA/02441/25, seeks to demolish a historic 19th-century suburban dwelling and replace it with a massive five-storey block comprising 30 apartments, 10 penthouses, 9 maisonettes, a shop and 83 garages, a statement issued by the organisers of the protest, Graffitti, said Saturday
Such a development is not only entirely out of context with its surroundings but also sets a very dangerous precedent. The proposed site lies on the very road leading to Buskett, one of Malta’s most significant green spaces, and is directly adjacent to a convent, a retreat house, and a care home for the elderly.
This is not simply a case of overdevelopment, stressed the residents – it is an act of cultural and environmental vandalism, the protesters said.
The building in question is of historical importance, being the first of its scale in the area and located within an Area of Archaeological Importance, close to a known Phoenician tomb. The residents claimed that the illegal grey coating applied to its façade seems a clear attempt to obscure its heritage value. Excavation poses serious risks to the integrity of the surrounding archaeological layers and historic fabric, and yet, no proper safeguards or studies appear to have been proposed.
The concerned residents, according to the statement, are arguing that the scale and design of the project are grossly out of step with the planning policies intended to preserve urban coherence and the cultural skyline, particularly those governing development near Urban Conservation Areas (UCA) and Residential Priority Areas. Such a development should reflect the predominant height and character of the area.
The proposed building does the opposite – it towers over neighbouring properties, disregards height transition principles, and destroys the visual buffer between Rabat and Buskett. To date, no proper environmental impact assessments have been carried out, despite reports of an underground spring in the vicinity, the statement said.
The development will also have a severe impact on infrastructure and quality of life. The proposal will generate traffic in an already saturated area, increase noise and activity levels near vulnerable communities, and violate residents’ privacy.
Rabat residents are up in arms against this attempt to ruin part of Rabat and Buskett’s character for speculative gain, the protesters said. They are calling on the Planning Authority and relevant entities to immediately halt this application and act to preserve this vital piece of Maltese heritage and the rural integrity of the area.
This project is part of a broader, destructive wave of overdevelopment that has infected towns and villages across Malta. It is synonymous with the abhorring mentality of “developers” and speculators’ greed to destroy our heritage, our skylines, and our quality of life – with complete disregard for sustainable urban planning or the future generations on these islands. Authorities can never act alone effectively; the Planning Commission boards frequently quote weak or outdated planning policies, or erratic local plan scheming, purely on a legal basis, to approve similar atrocities.
The residents therefore called on people of goodwill to raise their voices to curb these continuous, abusive demands and exploitation of our natural, historical and built heritage, the statement said.