As the db Group seeks planning permission to add an extra 82 apartments to its landmark St George’s Bay development, the company remains confident that demand for the new residential units will remain high.

The revised plans, submitted under permit reference PA 3807/17, propose the addition of seven and six floors to Towers A and B respectively, including a duplex floor on each. This would bring the total additional units to 82 – 76 apartments and six duplexes in a Special Designated Area (SDA): Areas where property can be purchased by both EU and non-EU citizens without the need for an AIP permit.

Responding to questions from WhosWho.mt, a db Group spokesperson highlighted that demand for premium residential property in Malta remains strong. The new units are “uniquely positioned to be swiftly taken up,” the Group stated, attributing this to the development’s full suite of on-site amenities.

“The uniqueness of this project lies in its full suite of amenities and services. Besides property units of the highest calibre, the project includes retail, a large selection of top quality restaurants, a supermarket, hotel amenities and a full range of other services residents may require,” the spokesperson said. “Demand for quality property in Malta continues to grow and we are confident the new units are uniquely positioned to be swiftly taken up.”

Asked whether the revised plans align with previous messaging about reducing the scale of the project following feedback from residents and NGOs, db pointed to the history of planning decisions linked to the site.

They clarified that the original proposal had featured a 38-storey tower and a 17-storey hotel, but the permit was revoked due to a conflict of interest on the Planning Authority board – not due to the height or massing of the proposed buildings. A new permit, approved in 2021, scaled down the towers to 18 and 17 storeys.

However, the developer did not at that stage use the full permitted Gross Floor Area (GFA). “The latest changes requested seek to make use of this surplus GFA,” the spokesperson noted, adding that the site lies in an area where Floor Area Ratio (FAR) development is permissible. This allows for taller buildings where adequate open space is provided.

They also stated that the revised proposal would not affect certain aspects of the project, such as its proximity to a nearby cave, which remains unchanged.

The large-scale development – which includes the two residential towers, a 12-storey five-star Hard Rock Hotel, and a commercial mall – is being constructed on the site of the former Institute of Tourism Studies (ITS), which straddles Pembroke and St Julian’s. Excavation and construction began in October 2024.

The expansion proposal comes on the back of a strong year for the db Group, which recorded €88.7 million in revenue in FY2024 – a 25 per cent year-on-year increase – and a 21 per cent rise in EBITDA to €36.8 million.