Momentum strongly denounces db Group’s latest move to exploit the St George’s Bay site by applying for permission to build an additional seven floors on their already controversial mega-development. After years of public resistance, multiple legal battles, and court appeals, this renewed push exposes the relentless greed that fuels some of Malta’s most monstrous developments.
The proposal, which would turn the two approved 17- and 18-storey towers into 23- and 25-storey behemoths, blatantly disregards the public interest, the surrounding community, and the spirit of previous planning compromises. db Group’s justification that “unused” Gross Floor Area (GFA) entitles them to more concrete, more steel, and more profits is an insult to all those who fought against the original project and in favour of safeguarding the scarce public land available for the community.
Let us be clear: the people of Pembroke and the Maltese public at large have already paid dearly in terms of lost public space, environmental degradation, and a permanent scar on our coastal landscape. The developer’s claim that it still has “room” to build more because the GFA was not maxed out in 2020 shows exactly what this is all about: an opportunistic land grab dressed up in planning jargon.
Momentum Chairperson Arnold Cassola stated: “This isn’t planning, this is brazen profiteering. db Group was never interested in compromise. Their strategy is clear: chip away at the opposition over time, wait for public fatigue, and then come back with even bigger plans. We cannot let this become the new normal.”
We call on the Planning Authority to reject this shameful application (PA/03218/25), and to remember the overwhelming public opposition that accompanied the original project. We also call on all residents, civil society groups, and concerned citizens to voice their outrage, once again, before it’s too late and to register their objections by email: [email protected].
”The future of our towns, our skylines, our coast, our beaches and our shared environment cannot be determined by the unchecked ambitions of single developers, only intent in amassing millions of profit for themselves. Enough is enough”, concluded Prof. Cassola.
Momentum jikkundanna r-regħba bla mistħija ta’ db Group fit-tentattiv tagħhom li jespandu fil-Bajja ta’ San Ġorġ
Momentum tikkundanna bil-qawwa l-aħħar pass ta’ db Group biex jisfruttaw is-sit tal-Bajja ta’ San Ġorġ permezz ta’ applikazzjoni biex jinbnew seba’ sulari oħra fuq il-proġett kolossali tagħhom, li diġà huwa ferm kontroversjali. Wara snin ta’ reżistenza pubblika, ġlidiet legali u appell wara l-ieħor, din it-talba għal żvilupp ġdid tikxef biċ-ċar il-kilba bla waqfien ta’ min qed imexxi wħud mill-iżviluppi l-aktar mostrużi f’Malta.
Il-proposta, li se tittrasforma ż-żewġ torrijiet ta’ 17 u 18-il sular f’wieħed ta’ 23 u ieħor ta’ 25 sular, qed tinjora b’mod sfaċċat l-interess pubbliku, il-komunità tal-madwar, u l-kompromessi fl-ippjanar li saru fil-passat. L-iskuża ta’ db Group li għandhom dritt jibnu aktar peress li baqa’ “spazju mhux użat” fil-Gross Floor Area (GFA) hija insult għal dawk kollha li ġġieldu l-proġett oriġinali u li għamlu ħilithom biex jipproteġu l-ftit art pubblika li fadal biex titgawda mill-komunità.
Ejja nkunu ċari: in-nies ta’ Pembroke u l-pubbliku Malti diġà ħallsu prezz għoli ħafna f’termini ta’ telf ta’ spazju pubbliku, degradazzjoni ambjentali, u li ħallew marka permanenti fuq il-kosta tagħna. It-talbiet tal-iżviluppatur li għandu “spazju” jibni aktar għax il-GFA ma ntużatx kollha fl-2020 turi eżatt x’inhi r-realtà: aħtaf art kemm tiflaħ, u nħeba taħt kliem sabiħ ta’ pjanar.
Ic-Chairperson ta’ Momentum, Arnold Cassola, qal: “Dan mhux ippjanar, dan huwa profittar sfaċċat. db Group qatt ma kienu interessati f’kompromessi. L-istrateġija tagħhom hi ċara: idgħajfu l-oppożizzjoni ftit ftit, jistennew li n-nies jagħmlu ħilithom u jgħejjew, u jerġgħu jiġu b’pjan saħansitra akbar. Ma nistgħux inħallu dan isir in-norma l-ġdida.”
Nappellaw lill-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar biex tiċħad din l-applikazzjoni ta’ mistħija (PA/03218/25), u biex tiftakar f’dik l-oppożizzjoni kbira li kienet akkumpanjat il-proġett oriġinali. Nappellaw ukoll lir-residenti, il-gruppi tas-soċjetà ċivili, u ċ-ċittadini li jimpurtahom biex jerġgħu jgħollu leħinhom qabel ma jkun tard wisq, u biex jissottomettu l-oġġezzjonijiet tagħhom permezz ta’ email: [email protected].
“Il-futur tal-irħula tagħna, is-sema tagħna, il-kosta tagħna, il-bajjiet tagħna u l-ambjent komuni tagħna ma jistgħux ikunu rvinati mill-ambizzjonijiet bla rażan ta’ żviluppatur, li l-uniku għan tiegħu hu li jagħmel miljuni fi qligħ għalih innifsu. Iż-żejjed kollu żejjed,” temm jgħid il-Professur Cassola.
