Saturday, March 30, 2019

Proposal to turn iconic Strickland House site in Valletta into apartment blocks

The iconic Strickland House in Valletta, which up until recently housed The Times of Malta, could be demolished and built up as apartments if an application before the Planning Authority is accepted.

The sole owner of the property, according to the planning application, is now Hili Twenty Two Ltd, thus indicating that the property had been sold by the owners of the newspaper. The newspaper had moved to a property in Mriehel.

The total site area of Strickland House is 1,505 sqm and the main existing use of the site is listed as being a printing press. It lies just Opposite Auberge de Castille.

The application by Hili Twenty Two Ltd, which is owned by Hili Company Ltd, reads: "Demolition of existing commercial premises and proposed construction of five basement garage levels, 50 apartments on six floors and two receded floors from Melita Street and one cafeteria.

Strickland House is located on St Paul's street, Melita Street and St Ursula Street in Valletta. The application was filed last December, and is making its way through the planning process.

The site is set to rise higher than its current height. On St Paul's street, the current building has around five levels, yet the new proposal would see around eight levels, according to the plans. The building will rise slightly above the hotel next door.

On Melita Street, the current height is around five levels, but the application will see this rise to eight, towering over a building next door.

A couple of the floors will be receded.

Valletta is a highly protected locality, so it remains to be seen whether such a proposal would be deemed as acceptable by the Planning Authority.

The proposal also incorporates a number of new features previously unseen on the current building, such as balconies.




from The Malta Independent https://ift.tt/2U5FDGz
via IFTTT

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