Pecunia European Properties Ltd, the developers behind the proposal to convert a historic Qormi palazzo into boutique tourist accommodation, have defended the project, describing opposition to it as “a campaign for a campaign’s sake.”The proposal has faced strong opposition from Moviment Graffitti, which has urged the Planning Authority to reject the application, arguing it would overdevelop one of the few remaining historic green spaces in the area.The plans concern Tat-Tabib Maempel, a Knights-era palazzo in Qormi’s Urban Conservation Area. While both the developers and Graffitti support restoring the historic building, disagreement centres on the scale of the proposed development within its centuries-old garden.Speaking to Lovin Malta, the developers said they were surprised by the backlash after the proposal’s earlier planning stages progressed without issue.They said they had reached out to both Moviment Graffitti and the Qormi Local Council to explain the project before opposition intensified. According to the developers, they met with council representatives, while a meeting with Graffitti did not take place. They described the campaign against the proposal as “a campaign for a campaign’s sake.”The developers insist the project is centred around preserving and restoring the historic garden, not replacing it.“The garden is the centrepiece,” they told Lovin Malta, adding that their vision is to restore the space and make it the focal point of the development while carefully integrating the new accommodation around it. They maintain that only 25% to 30% of the garden would be used for development, with the remaining majority retained and rehabilitated.They also said they embarked on the project because they wanted to create “something beautiful for the community”, arguing that the proposal has been misunderstood and that the public discussion has not reflected the plans as submitted to the Planning Authority.When contacted by Lovin Malta, Graffitti said it does not recall being approached by the applicants. However, it added that even if it had been, the NGO has an internal policy of not meeting developers while Planning Authority applications are still being processed, saying it bases its position on the publicly available application documents.Graffitti reiterated that it supports restoring the palazzo but strongly opposes what it describes as the destruction of a large part of the historic garden and the intensification of development through new buildings and multiple swimming pools. It argues the proposal is unsuitable for an Urban Conservation Area and says it would fundamentally alter one of the few remaining green spaces in the San Ġorġ area of Qormi.The application has been recommended for approval by the Planning Authority’s case officer, with a final decision expected during Thursday’s Planning Authority hearing.What do you think should happen to the historic palazzo and its gardens?•