Din l-Art Helwa has served a judicial letter addressed to the Planning Authority and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage regarding its long-standing request for the statutory scheduling of the British Barracks at Fort Chambray, Ghajnsielem. The request was originally submitted on the 18th of April 2024.
The judicial letter asks the Superintendence to reassess its position in light of the expert findings published earlier this year.
DLH said that the judicial letter calls for written confirmation of the status and timeline of the scheduling request; advance notice, access to relevant documents and the opportunity to make submissions before the Executive Council considers it; a full reassessment by the Superintendence, including of its recommendation, in light of the Europa Nostra expert mission report; and the scheduling of the British Barracks, together with their essential setting, at Grade 1, with publication in the Government Gazette.
Din l-Art Helwa said it also reserved all its legal rights, including in the event that any scheduling afforded to the British Barracks does not reflect the Grade 1 status it deserves.
The British Barracks were included in Europa Nostra’s “7 Most Endangered Heritage Sites in Europe” for 2026 on 26 February 2026 [1].
Following an expert mission to Malta and Gozo between the 18th and 23rd of May 2026, Europa Nostra’s final report, transmitted to the Authority on the 22nd of September, [2] concluded that the British Barracks are of ”exceptional European architectural, cultural and historical significance and should be scheduled at Grade 1 together with their essential setting.”
Din l-Art Helwa further noted that, despite the Government’s announcement of the 12th of October [3] that the “Master Plan” for Fort Chambray has been amended to include and preserve the British Barracks in situ, the statutory scheduling process under Article 57 of Cap. 552 remains pending and has still not been decided by the Executive Council.
In its communications of 25th and 31st August 2026, the Authority acknowledged that the request is pending and expected to be brought before the Executive Council shortly. A “Master Plan” amendment is ”not a substitute for statutory protection.”
DLH said that the Superintendence had originally stated that, as the full development application under consideration (PA 2454/16) is for the dismantling of the British Barracks as approved in PA 2024/07, and given the commitment taken in that permission, it is not in a position to revise its recommendation.
Aerial photo British Barracks – February 22nd, 2026 – DLH