Plans to develop historic British barracks in Malta into a luxury hotel and apartment have been met with outrage. A coalition of heritage groups on the Mediterranean island are fighting to save the 19th-century sandstone barracks from development, demanding an emergency conservation order to protect it.
The barracks are part of Fort Chambray, which overlooks the main harbour of Gozo – Malta’s sister island. The area has seen an increase in developments in recent years. Developers reportedly want to demolish most of the two-story building, which would see its sandstone facade then moved to a different position within the fort and converted into a hotel. Andre Callus from Moviment Graffiti, one of the civil society organisations that is trying to block the development, told The Telegraph: “The barracks are part of Fort Chambray, a stunning place which is brimming with history.
“They are part of our collective heritage and should not be destroyed for the profit of the few.
“If the project goes ahead, 90% of the barracks will be demolished. The façade will be incorporated into a commercial property for the enjoyment of the very few. There will be no access for the public.”
The development has been approved by Malta’s planning authority but campaigners are calling on an emergency conservation order to block the project.
An appeal has also been filed with Malta’s environment and planning review tribunal.
Campaigners have launched a petition to oppose the changes, which notes all other historic British barracks in Malta are protected by law, saying it was “perplexing” that those at Fort Chambray were not.
One organisation supporting the campaign told the broadsheet the barracks development will “increase urbanisation, strain local infrastructure and disrupt the characteristic landscape”.
Malta is a former British colony and gained independence in 1964.
Britain had a long-standing military presence on Malta until 1979 and the island played a crucial role in the Second World War, enabling the Allies to disrupt enemy supplies into Libya and support British forces in Egypt.