The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage said that it has formally asked the Planning Authority to freeze a permit that was approved for a block of apartments close to Ggantija Temples.

The Superintendence, in a statement, said it was invoking Article 80 of the Development Planning Act.

This action is asking the authority to open procedures to freeze the permit until a Heritage Impact Assessment is carried out as had been originally requested.

Following this, the Superintendence said it would then evaluate its conclusions.

“The assessment will guide the applicant, architect, and authorities as to the impact or otherwise of the proposed development on the templates,” SCH said.

Earlier this month, the Maltese National Committee of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) said that “there are grounds for concern that the decision may have been taken on the basis of incorrect statements made by the applicant’s representatives during the hearing, regarding the extent of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Buffer Zone.”

ICOMOS explained that “during the hearing, the applicant’s representatives reportedly referred to a smaller, circular buffer zone around Ggantija to argue that the site of the proposed works were outside the Buffer Zone of the World Heritage Site.”

It pointed out that “this circular area simply represents the MINIMUM requirement for ANY Grade A archaeological site in Malta.”

“If it is confirmed that erroneous or misleading statements about this were made during the hearing, and not corrected by the Planning Directorate or the Chair, it would raise very serious doubts about the validity of the decision,” stated ICOMOS.

File photo: Gozo News/Alain Salvary

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