VALLETTA — In a move described as “pragmatic” by officials and “uwejja” by residents, the Planning Authority announced today that sections of the Mediterranean may be counted as an additional bedroom in new permit applications.
New tickbox introduces ‘flexible marine living’
Under the new guidance, developers who can prove an “unobstructed visual connection” between a unit and the sea will be allowed to list the sea as a habitable room. The change is meant to speed up decisions, cut red tape, and help developers hit their advertised bedroom counts without demolishing yet another terrace of houses.
The PA has added a new tickbox on forms: “Sea as room? Yes/No.” If yes, applicants must supply one photograph of the view, two copies of the architect’s favourite rendering, and a signed affidavit promising the sea will continue to be blue most days.
”It’s innovative. If you can stare at the sea from your sofa, it is, by all reasonable definitions, a bedroom,”
Developers were quick to celebrate. “Ġużepp from Golden Shutter Developments said his new project in Sliema now advertises ‘3 bedrooms + sea’, which reads better on property portals. “Mela, buyers love sea-air names,” he added while polishing a balcony with a cloth that definitely wasn’t a copy of the permit.
Not everyone is convinced. Marija from Ħamrun said she woke up to find a five-storey building where her neighbour’s garden used to be, and the brochure insists the garden “has been upgraded to sea” because the developer put a photo of Marsamxett in the brochure. “Kemm nistgħu?” she asked. “The sea is not a room. It doesn’t even have sockets."")
The guidance includes a number of practical limitations, because of course it does: the sea must be within 200 metres in a straight line, visible at low tide, and there must be no new blocks of concrete taller than the sea. Also, the sea will only count as a bedroom between 7am and 10pm local time.
Real estate agents immediately updated listings. “Stunning 2-bedroom apartment with large sea (counts as 3rd bedroom), ideal for families, fishermen, and anyone who enjoys counting waves,” read one ad.
At press time, a fisherman had submitted an application to register the entire harbour as a penthouse; the PA confirmed the file was “under creative review.”