The Festaval Hotel in Mellieha is a former aparthotel in Malta on Marfa Ridge beneath the Saint Agatha's Tower. It is sometimes wrongly referred to as Festival Hotel.[1] The site also lies on the border of the Natura 2000 nature preserve which is located south of it.
Recent events
editOriginally designed by Richard England, the hotel has been abandoned for decades and become a spot for graffiti. Past attempts to redevelop the site date back to 1993, but none were finalized. While the new plans largely replicate the existing structure, the original building must be demolished due to safety concerns.[2][3][4]
The local council opposes the reconstruction, arguing that the hotel lies in an ecologically sensitive area protected by Government Notice GN 491/06. They believe the only solution is to demolish the structure and restore the natural landscape, not rebuild it. In 2018, an enforcement notice was issued against Mizzi Estates for abandoning the building and allowing it to fall into disrepair, which is currently under appeal. The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is still evaluating the plans and has indicated that an environmental impact assessment might be required.[5]
Gallery
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References
edit- ^ "Spotlight on the abandoned Festaval Hotel in Mellieha". www.guidememalta.com. 2019-12-29. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ^ Bonnici, Julian (2022-08-21). "Abandoned Mellieħa Festaval Hotel Set To Be Demolished And Reconstructed Under New Plans". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ^ "New plans submitted for reconstruction of abandoned hotel in ODZ - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ^ "Owners of abandoned Mellieha hotel fight demolition order". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
- ^ "Demolish Festaval Hotel and restore the area, Mellieħa council insists". Times of Malta. 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2024-09-20.