PA approves demolition of building on site earmarked for 13-storey Xlendi hotel
Munxar mayor says demolition will be pretext for 13-storey hotel, but PA insists developers have right to demolish building without approval of future plans
26 January 2021, 11:20am
by James Debono
The Planning Authority has approved the demolition of a building in Xlendi, on a site earmarked for the development of a massive 13-storey hotel in Xlendi by developer Joe Portelli.
The application approved is limited to the demolition of existing buildings located in Triq San Xmun and in Triq il-Punici and no excavations will be allowed at this stage as was initially proposed by the developers.
The Planning Authority has approved the demolition of a hotel in Xlendi - in what campaigners warn is the the first stage of a massive development project that will change the character of the popular Gozo bay.
At a meeting on Tuesday, an application to demolish the Hotel Xlendi Resort & Spa was approved by a three-person planning commission chaired by Claude Mallia.
It is the first phase in a project by a group of Gozitan businessmen, who propose building a four-star hotel on the site that will be 13 storeys high.
Excel Investments Ltd group, whose directors are Mark Agius, Joseph Portelli and Daniel Refalo, also propose building another complex of 60 apartments nearby in a separate planning application that is pending appeal.