The Planning Authority has approved an application for an extension to the Excelsior hotel in Floriana.

The application had originally been submitted in 2018, and was updated recently with new drawings and studies. The application was for the construction of a new wing consisting of 77 guest rooms, which would be connected to the existing hotel. The application also includes plans to refurbish the outdoor area and for restoration works on the bastions.

When the application had originally been submitted it had caused controversy over its potential impact on the skyline. The proposal was then scaled down.

Heritage NGOs had flagged their concerns over the plans.

A Heritage Impact had since been carried out, which found that: “The project will not impact significantly the world heritage city outstanding universal value or the wider context when considering the benchmarks quoted and the visual amenity studies. It has been seen that the development ‘does not pose a risk on ‘wholeness’ and ‘intactness’ and does not present a (significant) developmental threat’ also when considering development in the immediate and wider context. This development does not impact ‘authenticity either form and design or the location and setting’. However impact may be attenuated through mitigation measures.”

Prior to the board meeting, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and the National World Heritage Technical Committee reviewed the Heritage Impact Assessment that had been carried out, and were in agreement with its conclusions, “finding that the impact of the proposed development would be of an acceptable level and that the Outstanding Universal Value of Valletta and the Harbour Fortifications would not be threatened.

The Superintendence also said that the Heritage Impact Assessment has also been reviewed by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and ICOMOS, “and is also deemed satisfactory by these entities.”

The applicants on Thursday, during the PA hearing, highlighted the project’s downsizing since the original proposal.

Initially, the project had a 4,470 sqm footprint, which was now reduced to 1,383 sqm, the architect of the project said.

Objectors present at the sitting spoke against the project. A Friends of Villa Frere representative pointed to the view that building the original hotel in the 60s was a mistake, and not to add on to that.

Din l-Art Helwa Executive Chair Patrick Calleja called for a decision to be postponed until after a decision is taken on Malta’s bid for fortifications to be added to the UNESCO’s World Heritage List .

The application was approved with nine board members voting in favour and two against.