The Environmental and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) has rejected appeals filed by heritage organisations against plans to redevelop Fort Chambray in Għajnsielem, allowing the demolition and partial relocation of British-era barracks to proceed.
The contested project, submitted by developer Michael Caruana on behalf of Fort Chambray Ltd, includes the construction of a five-star hotel, residential apartments and commercial facilities. Approval granted in 2024 permits the dismantling of the historic barracks, with elements to be reconstructed elsewhere on the site.
Heritage groups, including Din l-Art Ħelwa, Wirt Għawdex and Moviment Graffitti, had argued that the barracks are integral to the fort’s historical character and should remain in their original position. Their appeals followed concerns that demolition would result in irreversible cultural loss, particularly after the site was listed among Europe’s most endangered heritage locations earlier this year.
Opposition to the project also included public demonstrations, with activists entering the site in November 2024 and again in February 2025, calling for the landmark to be preserved and returned to public use. NGOs additionally launched a fundraising campaign to support their legal challenge.
Despite these objections, supporters of the redevelopment maintain that the project represents a practical solution to restore and revitalise the long-neglected site. Originally granted under a 99-year concession in 1993, Fort Chambray has experienced decades of stalled development and multiple ownership changes.
A parliamentary decision in 2024 amended the original concession terms, enabling parts of the project to be transferred to new investors, a move seen as facilitating the current proposal.
With the tribunal’s ruling now delivered, the approved plans are set to move forward, marking a significant step in the long-delayed redevelopment of the historic fort.
