Property magnate Albert Mizzi is eying the development of a stretch of virgin land, consisting of trees and protected garigue, behind the Mellieha Bay Hotel in Ghadira.
A planning application presented by the developers’ architect seeks an outline permit for the construction of 98 new units.
Plans submitted by the architect and seen by this newspaper show 47 new bungalows with pools, three car parks, a restaurant as well as a leisure and welfare centre.
The proposed development is set to cover a footprint of 5,400 square metres. It also entails the felling of trees. A small part of the area covered by the application is designated as a site of ecological and scientific importance. All of it lies outside development boundaries.
“This piece of land was given to us by the government for development. What we are expecting is for MEPA to come back to us to tell us what sort of development can take place on this site,” Albert Mizzi told MaltaToday when asked how the proposed development can fit with the character of the area.
Mizzi is a director of the Mellieha Bay Hotel, which is partly owned by Mizzi Associated Enterprises Ltd. This company is owned by Alf Mizzi and Sons, in which Albert Mizzi is a shareholder.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt