Gozo’s Ġgantija temples, one of the world’s oldest structures, is facing a new threat after yet another planning application for an apartment block was submitted in the area.
Applicant Carmel Attard and architect Alexander Bigeni submitted plans to demolish a house in Xagħra and construct a three-storey apartment block with a pool.
This is not the first development to spring up near the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Earlier in 2021, a new five-storey development overlooking the site was proposed and made international news. The project’s applicant is Emmanuel Farrugia and its architect is Samuel Formosa.
Given the area’s archaeological importance, a number of objections had been filed with many raising concerns that the development is not in keeping with the area’s historical value.
This proposal will set a dangerous precedent within this area whereby a currently low lying streetscape, which volumetrically does not impinge on views from the street or from the area around the temples or from other long-distance views, would be transformed into an incongruous volume of double the current height,” the council said when objecting to the latest application.
“This would have a negative impact on the setting of the temples and other archaeological sites in the vicinity, apart from the negative impact on the townscape of Xagħra in general.”
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