The owners of the 18th century home Villa Bologna, a former residence of Lord Gerald Strickland, are objecting to the Central Local Plan put forward by the Malta Environmental and Planning Authority because it designates parts of Villa Bologna’s grounds and the overlying street for development.
Owner Gerald de Trafford yesterday said that after the draft local plan was published for a six-week consultation in 2001, substantial changes had been made to the plan which he said had not been subjected to public consultation as required by the development planning law.
Architect Carmel Cacopardo, a former audit office employee at MEPA, who is representing the owners’ interests, said during the press conference held yesterday morning that no development proposals had been included in the draft plan, which was approved in August 2006 to include part of Lorenzo Manche street in Attard for development with a height limitation of three floors, when it was previously designated as a green area.
Also present for the press conference were Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Harry Vassallo and AD local councillor for Attard, Ralph Cassar. Vassallo said it was “inconceivable to issue permits for developments when there are 28% of the houses which are empty.”
Former Attard Mayor and historian Prof Henry Frendo also expressed dismay at the MEPA decision. Villa Bologna was built as a dowry by Fabrizio Grech, lawyer and adviser to Grand Master Pinto on the occasion of his daughter Maria Theresa’s marriage to Nicola Perdicomati Bologna, the 2nd Count della Catena, in 1745.
Lord Strickland, Prime Minister between 1927 and 1932, inherited the villa through his mother Luisa Bonici Mompalao after protracted litigation. It was his wife Margaret Strickland who restored Villa Bologna
Cacopardo also said that Villa Bologna had not been schedule by MEPA despite requests by the current owners – a claim which was denied by MEPA later that afternoon which said the owners had not made any formal request.
MEPA assistant director of planning Frans Mallia yesterday said there were “only minor changes” to the local plan which was approved last year.
The local plan has also included the grounds of Villa Bologna for development with a two-floor height limitation.
Responding to claims by AD that no consultation had taken place on the amendments to the draft local plan, MEPA chairman Andrew Calleja said public consultations had been taking place for the past four years, claiming that none of the owners had ever approached MEPA regarding the matter.
Calleja said the whole villa had actually been included in the original draft of the plans but it was then taken out, other than for part of its gardens at its back. He said technical officials felt this part of the garden did not merit protection although he indicated the authority could reconsider its position following the de Trafford request for the whole villa to be protected from development.
Astrid Vella, spokesperson for environmental NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar, was also present during yesterday’s press conference at Villa Bologna. She said Villa Bologna, next to which an application for development has been filed, was already scheduled in 1925 and should have a Grade A designation as per the Cultural Heritage Act.
“Such buildings are also expected to have adequate buffer zone and anything that in any way impairs or diminished the architectural or historic importance of his site would be a violation not only of the Cultural Heritage Act, but also of the National Strategy of the Cultural Heritage.”
MEPA however rebutted the claims, saying that the Antiquities (Protection) Act of 1932, never included Villa Bologna.

sagius@mediatoday.com.mt