Archbishop disappointed with Manikata block built after Curia dropped objections

Archbishop Charles Scicluna is "disappointed" with a four-storey apartment block which has overshadowed the Manikata chapel, even though the church had dropped its objections to the development back in 2018.

Earlier this month, images of a newly built apartment block built side-by-side with the 102-year-old chapel sparked outrage online. 

Back in 2019, the government had announced a restoration project for the chapel, one year after the Planning Authority greenlit plans (PA/10483/17) to build 18 residential units, 20 garages and one office right next to it. 

At the time, both the Curia and Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had objected to the "massive" development going ahead. 

Before and after: How the chapel has been engulfed by an apartment block. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

The cultural heritage watchdog had sounded the alarm on how the development would have a negative impact on views of the chapel and "may cause material damage".

15 reasons against development

And in January 2018, in a letter addressed to then PA chairman Johann Buttigieg, the Curia and Manikata Parish had listed 15 reasons behind their strong objections to the development.

The letter highlighted how the...