Be the first to comment!FAA ”strongly condemns” plans for multi-storey garage abutting Turkish Cemetery
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An application to build a multi-storey garage abutting on the Grade 1 scheduled Turkish Cemetery, on Triq Emmanuele Luigi Galizia, Marsa, and named after the Cemetery’s architect, Malta’s most illustrious architect of the past, has been strongly condemned by Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar.
FAA, in a statement, said that it is ”taken aback” to note that in recommending approval of this application.
”The Planning Authority Case Officer makes no reference to the PA’s Circular 3/20 on Assessing and Determining Development Applications in the Setting of Scheduled Buildings and Monuments,” FAA said.
FAA pointed out that this gives the guidance: “for each scheduled property, especially Grade 1 buildings, the context/setting is deemed to be highly significant, which includes both the building and its surroundings” and stipulates that “Character Appraisal of the context is to be taken into consideration which should identify and describe those elements that create local character and other important features and constraints, including streetscape, scale, height, existing open spaces, natural topography, significant views of skylines, the scheduled buildings including backdrops, and important local views, prospects and panoramas of the setting in which the proposal is located.”
FAA argued that this application is shown to be within the buffer zone of the Grade 1 cemetery, which is normally taken to be a protected radius of 50m whereas this building abuts it directly.
FAA called on the Chairman of the Planning Authority to carry out an official investigation as to why these regulations were not implemented in the case of such an important monument in terms of both our history and Malta’s architectural heritage.
FAA added that ”especially since that the same regulations have been imposed on much lesser cases. Is the law not the same for everyone?”
The NGO added that ”since this PA regulation is also specifically directed at architects, FAA calls for disciplinary measures to be taken against this architect who is exchanging ethics for greed, betraying Malta’s architectural heritage and bringing down the prestige of his profession.”
