Environmental NGOs, including the Ramblers Association and Din l-Art Ħelwa, have welcomed the government’s decision to amend the Fort Chambray master plan to incorporate the historic British barracks and prevent their demolition. The government stated that the amendment followed discussions with the developers and recognised the barracks’ historical and architectural significance, while ensuring that their heritage value would be considered in future development plans.
However, NGOs have quickly rebutted the suggestion that incorporating the barracks into the master plan is sufficient to guarantee their protection. Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Coalition for Gozo have called for the buildings to receive Grade 1 scheduling, warning that Grade 2 protection would still enable substantial development within the historic structures. They cited examples such as St George’s Barracks, which were incorporated into the Hard Rock Hotel development despite their Grade 2 scheduling, and Cambridge Barracks, where Grade 2 protection did not prevent approval for a 31-storey hotel within the barracks’ footprint.
Grade 1 protection would provide the highest level of statutory heritage protection available. The NGOs have also stressed that preserving only the exterior would not be sufficient, arguing that the original interiors and the historic setting must also be protected. They are calling for the barracks to be restored and adapted for reuse without destroying their original architectural fabric.
Fort Chambray is currently being developed by a private consortium after Parliament approved a renegotiated deal with the developers, granting them the free use of the land under the existing lease and allowing the concession to be transferred to third parties.
Newsroom
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