A supermarket is being proposed to take the place of Gutenberg Printing Press, a 5,430-square metre site, on Tarxien Road, Santa Lucija, a report has stated.
On Friday (today), MaltaToday reported that the development is being proposed on three levels above street level and four underground levels. The application was presented by Frank Spiteri on behalf of Gutenberg Printing Press Ltd.
Gutenberg Printing Press Ltd was founded in 1983 by Mr Spiteri through an investment of €420 for an Adana Letterpress printing machine. In 1996 it moved to the facility and three years later an export department was set up and established itself as a printer to the UK publishing market. Over the years it grew, and by 2019 it had two factories in Tarxien and Bulebel.
The plans indicate that a 2,862-square metre supermarket at level minus one, various retail outlets and a food outlet at groundfloor level. On the other hand, shops would also be on the overlying second level along with workshops, offices, and another catering establishment on level three.
An additional 290 underground parking spaces are also being proposed beneath the supermarket.
Despite the area forming part of the outside development zone, the area is under a specific local plan policy which permits “mixed use” development. This includes showrooms, supermarkets and ancillary offices.
However, the report explains that the policy forbids other kinds of retail outlets and residential development.
The proposed development would border Goldolier Hall, a wedding venue converted into a place of worship by Gordon Manche, which currently resides next to Scotts Supermarket.
Close by, in March, the Planning Authority (PA) issued an outline permit for a retail centre that would that would form 17,500 square metres of retail shops also built over three levels. This would replace the Schembri Barbros commercial plant.
To top it off, the PA is also looking into another application for yet another proposal of the construction of a supermarket, shops, offices and restuarants on the Trihills scrap yard between Schembri Barbros and Gutenberg press sites.
