The db Group’s fresh application to add seven more storeys to its already controversial development in St George’s Bay has reignited fierce opposition from political parties, civil society and planning watchdogs. The latest proposal (PA/03218/25) seeks to increase the height of its two residential towers from 17 and 18 storeys to 23 and 25 storeys, creating space for 82 additional high-end apartments.
Momentum, long opposed to the development, has strongly denounced the move as a “brazen land grab” and “profiteering dressed in planning jargon.” Chairperson Arnold Cassola criticised the developers for exploiting legal loopholes and public fatigue: “This isn’t planning. It’s an orchestrated campaign to wear down opposition until it becomes silence.”
db Group argues the expansion is legally justified, citing unutilised Gross Floor Area (GFA) under Malta’s Floor Area Ratio policy. Yet critics argue the company’s insistence on “unused” entitlements ignores the social and environmental costs already paid by the public.
This latest twist comes after years of backlash. The development, which began construction in 2024, had originally been planned as a 38-storey tower before being downsized following years of public resistance. Its final approval in 2024 followed a narrow Planning Authority vote in 2021, despite objections from local councils, environmental NGOs, and thousands of residents.
For many, this new application is evidence that the compromise was always temporary. “db Group was never interested in compromise,” Cassola said. “Their strategy is clear: chip away at resistance until bigger plans become reality.”
Momentum is now urging residents and civil society to act swiftly. “We call on all residents, civil society groups, and concerned citizens to voice their outrage, once again, before it’s too late,” the group said in a statement. “Register your objections by emailing: representations@pa.org.mt.
This latest application also comes amid growing concerns about db Group’s political influence. As previously reported by this portal, senior db figures are increasingly entangled in internal Nationalist Party decisions, with questions raised over whether key appointments are being shaped by corporate interests rather than party merit.
Newsroom
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