In the heart of town, a boutique hotel project promises urban renewal but angers residents

A project to build a boutique hotel in Gibraltar’s old town has put a spotlight on the challenges of redeveloping an area where residents and businesses must co-exist in close proximity.

The project aims to convert an existing building that faces onto Cornwall’s Lane and Gavino’s Passage into a 24-room hotel with a rooftop terrace in the heart of town.

The scheme ties in with the government’s development plan and will help to attract visitors and investment in this part of town, and for Gibraltar as a whole.

But it has also raised concerns among people living in adjacent buildings, who fear the project will affect their quality of life and impact on their privacy and their right to light.

The original plan had been to demolish the building at 44 Cornwall’s Lane, which is currently home to the Paparazzi restaurant but is generally in poor condition.

But after the developer engaged with the Gibraltar Heritage Trust, the latest version of the project before the Development and Planning Commission now envisages constructing an additional two floors to the existing building, while retaining in the original structure.

It also includes plans for a rooftop terrace with decking and a pool for the hotel’s customers.

Full article in today's print and e-editions.

Pic by Johnny Bugeja