Second rejection for Upper Town scheme

A planning application for nine apartments and the redevelopment of a war shelter on Hospital Ramp in the Upper Town has been turned down for a second time by the Development and Planning Commission.

The application was refused based on the fact the new submission was larger in mass and scale than the first application, which had been rejected for precisely the same reasons.

The Deputy Town Planner, Paul Naughton-Rumbo, said that the fundamental issues discussed in March this year when the application was first presented had not been dealt with and that this was disappointing.

The applicant’s representatives, Eric Ellul and Sammy Armstrong, and objectors Chris Apap, Dee Andrew and Owen Smith addressed the DPC.

Mr Ellul spoke first and stated that the filed application was similar to the design submitted with the original tender documents.

He then sought to have Mr Smith’s previous objections rejected, claiming that he had tendered for the property with a similar three-storey plan that was refused. That, Mr Ellul added, meant “some may say” Mr Smith’s objections “were sour grapes.”

“Mr Smith’s objection is coloured for his own personal needs because he will lose his view of the Rock”, Mr Ellul added.

During his presentation to the DPC, Mr Smith rejected the claims from Mr Ellul and stated that he and his girlfriend, who live near the property, are very happy there.

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