Tuesday, July 14, 2020

Feedback to Public Consultation: Mercury House Highrise

With reference to the public consultation process concerning the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Mercury House highrise proposal, I have submitted the following to ERA and the PA:


To:  eia.malta@era.org.mt, customercare@pa.org.mt
Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning
(
Environment & Resources Authority; Planning Authority)
Re; (i)  PA/1892/19 – To demolish the Go-Exchange building and excavate site to accommodate an entertainment arena, an extension to the existing car park and back of house facilities approved in PA 6955/17, and to construct a 9 storey (29m) residential block with retail (class 4B) facilities on the lower floors and a swimming pool at roof level. The redesign of the podium to include a 19- storey hotel (Class 3B), as an extension to the approved hotel. To restore and refurbish the underground vaults housing the Hotel Spa. To reorganise the uses in the approved main residential tower to incorporate the addition of a residential floor at level 31, an amenity floor at level 32 and receded roof structure capping the building. The resulting overall height is 121.66m above street level.
Site at, Mercury House Site and Go-Exchange Building, Triq San Gorg, Triq Sant Andrija, Triq Elija Zammit, Triq Gdida fi, Triq Sant'Andrija, San Giljan
(ii) PA/0055/17 - To demolish the Go-Exchange Building and excavate the site as part of the phase 1 works forming part of the Mercury Towers Project.
Site at, Go-Exchange Building, Triq San Gorg, San Giljan, Malta
Reference is made to above. 
I note that the EIA does not comprise a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) process. I therefore appeal for the inclusion of this, in accordance with international standards for example those set by the International Association for Impact Assessment, which is accessible from this link:


In this regard, please refer to public consultation regarding SIAs dated 17 May 2019. Link: https://meae.gov.mt/en/Public_Consultations/MTI/Pages/Consultations/PAproposestointroduceSocialImpactAssessmentProcedures.aspx

My correspondence dated 31 May 2019 to the PA regarding refers in link below. To date, I have not been informed of any policy update in this regard. 

Dr Michael Briguglio
Sociologist