Gozo’s Calypso Hotel to be turned into flats by Fort Chambray developers – minister’s advisers given 10% stake

The Calypso Hotel in Marsalforn, a landmark in Gozo and one of the first hotels built on the island, dating back to the 1960s, is set for total demolition and transformation into three massive blocks, mostly flats, with other commercial activities.

The developers behind the project are the same ones responsible for the controversial Fort Chambray transformation and the controversial demolition of the British quarters.

They have also included a 10% shareholding for a Gozitan company owned by the Bigeni brothers, Damien and Alex, relatives of Gozo and Planning Minister Clint Camilleri, who also served as his consultants from time to time.

Completely against ethical rules, one of the brothers, Alex Bigeni, is also acting as the architect of the mega project, creating a clear conflict of interest that is supposedly being monitored by the Kamra tal-Periti.

Through a new planning application fronted by Oliver Brownrigg on behalf of the newly formed Le Mer Ltd, it is being proposed that the current hotel be demolished to make space for approximately 8,500 square metres of developable land, to be turned into three mega blocks incorporating a small hotel.

The Shift is informed that the developers intend to build around 141 apartments, commercial facilities, including shops, and a large underground car park, while using the hotel component as an excuse to push through the multi-million-euro permit.

While the existing hotel has around 100 rooms, the new hotel being proposed will be half the size, with about 50 rooms.

Part of the plot that the developers want to turn into flats is located on ODZ land at the back of the current hotel and is government property. It is not known whether the government has already committed this site to the very well-connected developers, most of whom are regular Labour Party donors.

The group of developers behind the Calypso project –  jointly forming BBT Plc – have already purchased the Fort Chambray concession from Michael Caruana, known as Il-Billi, in an undisclosed multi-million-euro deal.

Tum Invest, controlled by Ninu Fenech and his sons; the BT Group of Oliver Brownrigg; and Burmarrad Commercial of Mario Gauci are the main shareholders. Contractors V&C, controlled by Vince Borg, known as Ċensu n-Nizz, are also heavily involved.

Apart from the Bigeni brothers, the developers also roped in Francesco Grima, known as il-Gigu, with a 5% share. He is known to be close to the Planning Minister.

The deal to buy the Calypso Hotel, reportedly for around €8 million, was also made with il-Billi, who has owned the hotel for years together with Lombard Bank and Maurice Borg Enterprises.

Sources said the apparent low price could be due to numerous legal issues with the land’s title, which the investors need to resolve before realising their project, including some behind-the-scenes dealings with the government and the Lands Authority.

The application to convert the Calypso Hotel into additional blocks of flats is still in the screening phase.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has requested a Project Description Statement, as concerns have been raised about the impact the proposal will have on Marsalforn and its infrastructure.

Most of the flats proposed by the developers would be situated behind the current hotel, accessed through a very narrow road with restricted space, in an area already dominated by blocks of flats.

Meanwhile, the Fort Chambray developers are awaiting the outcome of an ongoing appeal against their approved planning application and are reportedly planning to start works on building more flats at the Knights-era fort later this year.