UNESCO, the United Nation’s authority for protecting World Heritage Sites, has come down hard on illegalities at the Iniala Hotel on Valletta’s iconic St Barbara Bastions with imposing views of the Grand Harbour.
As part of his investment that converted old imposing residences into a five-star hotel, the hotel’s owner, entrepreneur Mark Weingard, seems to have ignored various restrictions tied to his permit and built a closed-in retractable glazed enclosure on the roof terrace to turn it into a ‘Michelin star rooftop restaurant’.
But according to public documents lodged on the Planning Authority’s website, the illegal structure, which can be seen from across the Grand Harbour marring the views of Valletta, is causing alarm among UNESCO and other heritage watchdogs.
Despite the fact that the unsanctioned structure has been a fully functional restaurant for months, the Planning Authority has still not issued an enforcement order while Weingard, through his architect Paul Camilleri, has applied for it to be sanctioned.
Mark Weingard
The PA documents show that in a meeting of its technical committee that discussed reports from Malta and the latest application to sanction the illegalities, UNESCO objected to the development by underlining its concerns on the impact the structure is leaving on Valletta’s status as a World Heritage Site.
Recommending the application’s refusal, UNESCO’s World Heritage Technical Committee declared it opposed the development.
Malta’s counterpart for the protection of cultural heritage has also harshly criticised the development.
In its comments to the PA, the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage said: “The unauthorised glazed enclosure, now proposed for sanctioning is completely unacceptable and damaging to the cultural heritage values of Valletta.”
It added that it “objects to this enclosure and to its proposed sanctioning in the strongest possible terms and urges the removal of this accretion”.
Other objectors are asking the PA to take direct action and immediately remove the illegality. These include Friends of the Earth, Din l-Art Helwa and other individuals who put up stiff resistance.
The British millionaire has bought several properties in Valletta over the past decade since he decided to make Malta his home.
Porca maIniala! Looks like a chicken coop on the roof.
Why does it have European entities that tell our authorities that these are making a laughing stock of themselves. This week the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) took action against Malta Customs Personnel against corruption.
I’ll bet it will be sanctioned and the structure will stay there and/or some form of agreement with minor changes will be agreed to and PA & UNESCO can kiss the owner’s ass !!
If a minster responsible for PA built a large pool which was not santioned why should anyone care about enforcement.
just now that he had been the highest bidder for the management of Eva Buildings with 78 million euros. but should unesco go and look at him? Is there anyone who is up to the rule of law in Malta?
Daddy’s little bodybuilder will also give the Evans Building to Weingard, so long as the price is right (for himself, of course, not the taxpayer). And the sheeple will just keep on clapping in enthused approval.
oooh they can look at the wonderful new buildings being proposed on Manoel island, which are lovely and so in tandem with the fort structure. or does it face the cranes to the south.
1.Has this British millionaire been subjected to a proper due diligence and presented his statement of wealth and source of funds?
2. Who endorsed his application and due diligence report?
3. Who serviced him (company service provider) with the application?
No beating about the bush please.
PA needs to stop giving out these permits that are destroying our heritage and the environment.
anke il barranin draw jaghmlu li jridu!!! Banana Republic Bobby!!!!
X’wirt se thalluwlhom l’uliedna!
Do the idiots in Brussels know that because the EU Commission regards Malta as any other EU country and take no consideration of Malta’s size, businesses in Malta are violating UNESCO directives and EU laws?
Time will come when the international community accuses the EU Commission of not acting against Malta’s violation of EU and International laws.
You see even foreigners enjoy the IMPUNITY afforded to the so called elite (pigs basically) but only if they money and plenty of brown envelopes?
What about the Architects professional body. Don’t they self-regulate? I believe in the netherlands if you dare apply for something regulated against you are immediately fined,