Developer Joseph Portelli has submitted plans for a 30-apartment block with six rooftop swimming pools in Xemxija. The application, lodged on April 8, includes private garages, an office, three ground-floor maisonettes, and six penthouses, each with its own pool.

This is not the first major development project that Portelli has undertaken in the area. His company already has a site under construction nearby, where a 44-apartment block with swimming pools is being built. However, this new proposal has hit a snag after Enemalta filed an objection due to concerns about electricity supply requirements.

Documents on the Planning Authority website reveal that Enemalta is demanding the integration of a substation into the development to ensure sufficient power supply. The objection was lodged on June 11, and the project is now awaiting recommendation from the Planning Authority. Interestingly, Claude Mallia, the architect behind this application, chaired the Planning Commission until 2022.

The proposed development comes amidst growing interest in Xemxija from other big-name developers. Polidano Group owns a large undeveloped plot that it plans to transform into a 12-storey commercial and residential complex. The company also holds permits to build two more apartment blocks in the vicinity, one of which will feature 25 apartments and a penthouse with a swimming pool.

The project has not been without controversy, however. In April, part of the road next to Portelli's existing construction site caved in, prompting concerns about building safety in the area. While a spokesperson for Portelli attributed the collapse to water ingress through natural fissures in the rock, the incident has raised questions about the structural integrity of buildings in Xemxija.

Enemalta's objection highlights the challenges that developers face when trying to meet electricity supply requirements in large-scale developments. The company's demand for a substation integration is likely to be a key factor in the project's future development. As the Planning Authority considers Portelli's application, it will need to weigh up the benefits of this new development against the potential risks and challenges that it poses.

Xemxija Estate Ltd, owned by Polidano Group, plans to turn a large undeveloped plot into a 12-storey commercial and residential complex. The company also holds permits to build two more apartment blocks in the area, one with 25 apartments and a penthouse with a swimming pool.