The proposed redevelopment of Comino’s only hotel has entered a new phase after a court annulled a previous planning tribunal decision, sending the case back for further review, while developers insist the process is still ongoing.
Environmental NGOs have welcomed the ruling, with the Lawyer that is representing the NGOs in court, Claire Bonello, telling WhosWho.mt that appellants remain “adamant in their resolve to ensure that planning policies are followed and that Comino is safeguarded for the Maltese and Gozitans and not for speculative purposes.”
“We are in this for the long haul. We are not backing down on the gem that is Comino,” she added.
The judgment annuls the earlier decision by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal, which had upheld the permit granted by the Planning Authority for the project led by HV Hospitality, a subsidiary of Hili Ventures.
In a statement to the media, HV Hospitality said it “notes the Court’s decision to refer the Six Senses Comino project back to the EPRT for technical verification of the permitted status of the current structures on Comino,” adding that the ruling “does not conclude the process” but marks the next step in a six-year regulatory journey.
A spokesperson said the company “respects the Court’s ruling” and remains confident in the project’s planning and environmental merits, noting that the proposal had been “substantially pared back through consultation, expert input and regulatory engagement.”
The €170 million redevelopment aims to transform existing 1960s-era structures into a lower-density tourism project, featuring 71 hotel rooms and 16 bungalows, with a focus on sustainability and environmental restoration.
HV Hospitality added that it remains committed to engaging with authorities and stakeholders as the process moves forward.
The project has been the subject of sustained opposition from environmental groups over the past six years, particularly due to its location on a Natura 2000-designated site and concerns about overdevelopment on the island.
HV Hospitality is a subsidiary of Hili Ventures Limited, the Malta-based, privately-owned holding company steering a group of businesses across Europe and North Africa in food service, retail, real estate, hospitality, shipping, engineering, and technology.
With the case now returning to the tribunal for technical verification, the future of one of Malta’s most high-profile tourism developments remains uncertain, as both sides signal that the dispute is far from over.
