Two Marsalforn townhouses to bite the dust

Another two “well-preserved” townhouses will be making way for apartments along Valley Road in Marsalforn, to the disappointment of residents. The planning authority had refused the development of two food outlets and 12 apartments on Triq il-Wied, but the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal then revoked the refusal. Last month, signs went up on the townhouses, asking residents not to park in the area, and workers turned up on site. Among the reasons for refusal, the authority had noted that there were architectural elements and features present within the existing building that were worth retaining due to their significant architectural and contextual relevance. But the appeal was submitted on grounds, among others, that the building did not form part of a series of similar facades that created a sequential pattern along a streetscape that would otherwise be disturbed by the proposed demolition. Rather, the site was squashed and flanked by high new developments on both sides. While acknowledging that the building’s facade had various architectonic elements based on classical and other decorative styles, the tribunal noted that the zone was characterised by modern and...