A major regeneration scheme in Cottonera, on the south coast of Malta, has seen a revamp of the Vittoriosa waterfront, improving the quality of life for residents and visitors as well as boosting economic development.
- 22 April 2013
The scheme encompasses the refurbishment of historic buildings, housing and an old dock area as well as the implementation of improvements to accessibility and the area’s transport links.
Central to the project is the refurbishment of an old dock area in Cospicua, known as Dock 1, which has been out of service for over a quarter of a century. Work in this area involves a full redesign of the waterfront and public spaces, the pedestrianisation or semi-pedestrianisation of some areas and the creation a footpath connecting Vittoriosa Waterfront to Senglea Point.
The project also includes the revamping of a disused area into a public garden in the area known as San Gwann t’Ghuxa and the refurbishment of housing in the areas known as St Nicholas Married Quarters and Verdala. Work has included the removal of illegal structures, the implementation of soft and hard landscaping, the installation of sustainable environmental measures, and improvements to make residential areas more accessible. In total, 94 households were renovated and this has resulted in a higher quality of life for the area’s 200 residents.
In addition, the area around Dar Andrew, an independent living centre for people with disabilities, has been considerably improved. This latter work includes repaving the area, improving accessibility and mobility for disabled people and reorganising parking facilities.
The project also involved the conversion of disused land for recreational purposes, the installation of new lighting systems and the provision of public benches and other street furniture. Disused industrial sites are being transformed into modern recreational and leisure areas both for the benefit of the locals as well as visitors, resulting in an increase in the amount of green recreational space.
Environmental benefits
Meanwhile, on a national level, a new feeder bus service for the Cottonera area has been established, connecting the area with the national bus transport network. Improved accessibility for pedestrians is also expected to lead to greater use of ferries and water taxis and the decreased use of cars.
Environmental benefits more directly linked to this project result from the introduction of energy efficiency measures, including the installation of double-glazing, photovoltaic panels, energy-saving lighting and roof insulation.
Project leader Hector Chetcuti said that, by attracting new activities and investment, it is expected that the project will have a positive economic spin-off effect on the area, including the creation of new jobs. Since the project got underway in 2011, property prices have risen and new catering establishments have opened in the area.
Other benefits of the project, according to Mr Chetcuti, include the fact that disused former industrial land has been made accessible and is now being used for leisure and social purposes. It is also expected that the improvements to the area will boost visitor numbers.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the “Stronger Cottonera Communities - The citizen’s right to accessibility and mobility” project was EUR 9 312 348 of which the European Regional Development Fund contributed EUR 7 915 496 from the Operational Programme “Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life” for the 2007-2013 programming period. The national contribution to the project is EUR 1 396 852.