Momentum proposes flipping the Grand Harbour Revival Plan on its head
Momentum is proposing an important change to the Grand Harbour Revival Plan with the hope of convincing the government to rethink the project’s priorities. Momentum is calling for a reversal of the project’s phasing to ensure that Malta’s most urgent needs are met before commercial interests are served.
The current plan consists of a concerning timeline in which the creation of a “new park” and crucial “pedestrian links” have been buried in Phase 4, the very last stage of this multi-year redevelopment. Instead, the first decade of the project is dedicated almost exclusively to hotels, offices, residential blocks, and a new marina. Momentum believes that relegating the greening of our environment to the final phase is a strategic error that prioritises commercial concessions over the health and quality of life of the residents.
In response, we are proposing a version of the project that does not leave health and wellbeing as an afterthought. We demand that the government begins immediately with Phase 4, making the restoration of Floriana’s bastions and the delivery of the promised public park the project’s absolute priority. Under our proposal, the commercial developments outlined in Phases 1, 2, and 3 would be subject to a strict success-based progression; they should only proceed if, and only if, the greening project is successfully executed and opened to the public. Additionally, in line with our policy of never giving away public land, it is critical that if this project proceeds, no land is given away. Any leasing of public land for non-public purposes must be restricted to a very short-term basis.
“We are tired of seeing ‘green spaces’ used as a marketing gimmick to soften the blow of massive commercial development,” said Mark Camilleri Gambin, General Secretary of Momentum. “If the government is serious about our quality of life, they should have no problem proving it by building the park first. The commercial phases should only proceed if the greening project is a success. We cannot allow the public’s lungs to be traded for more office blocks and yacht berths.”
The Grand Harbour is a world-class asset, and its revival must not be driven solely by the need for retail outlets and hospitality venues. By starting with the park, the government can immediately fulfill its goals to plant more trees and increase open spaces, providing the public with tangible benefits before any further public land is granted to private investors. Momentum believes this is the only way to ensure the project truly rejuvenates the port’s character for the benefit of the people, rather than just economic interests.
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