VALLETTA — The Court of Appeal yesterday upheld objections to two 14-storey hotels planned for Tas-Sliema, prompting the Planning Authority to announce an immediately coherent follow-up: the approval of 14 additional towers so everything looks balanced from the promenade.
Residents described the decision as “very fair,” with a hint of resignation. “Kemm jista’ jkun?” asked Marija Zammit, who has lived on the Sliema seafront for 42 years and now enjoys a new skyline every morning. “If they’ve got to have towers, at least let them be the same number. Symmetry is calming, u iva, it might hide the sun a bit less.”
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The court ruled that the original permits failed to consider local amenity and sightlines. The Planning Authority took this as constructive feedback and said it “fully respects the legal process” before unveiling a masterplan that turns the whole bay into what officials called a ‘visual ensemble.’
”We listened carefully. The judges said two were too many, so we thought: why not expand the concept? People like numbers. Fourteen is a good number — robust, architecturally fun,”
Developers were reportedly thrilled. Tumas Vella, head of Blue Limestone Resorts, told Times of Mela his company had already ordered extra balconies. “We had the cranes ready anyway. Mela, it makes economic sense: more rooms, more views, more apologies later when people can’t see the sea from their breakfast pastizzi,” he said.
Local cafés have adapted quickly. One owner in Tower Street renamed his shop “Il-Café tal-14” and introduced a new pastry: the pastizz-14, a pastizzi folded exactly 14 times. Patrons praised the innovation. “Uwejja, it’s flaky,” said regular Pawlu Grech. “Also, I can now sell higher-floor tickets for better sunsets. Win-win.”
Opposition MPs called for calm and a proper review. The Planning Authority announced it will expedite that review and publish it in triplicate next week.
At press time, an architect was seen with a tape measure and a ruler, whispering something about balance and feng shui. “Aħna se nagħmlu l-affarijiet simetriċi,” he murmured, as a crane lowered a balcony labeled 14B into the sunset.