New mental health facility at Joshua Hassan House approved by DPC

The Development and Planning Commission has unanimously approved plans to refurbish and repurpose Sir Joshua Hassan House on Secretary’s Lane.

The building will be converted into a shared public service hub for the Community Mental Health Team, the Ombudsman and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The project aims to modernise the property while preserving its historic character and civic importance.

Most of the work will take place internally, with the existing layout reorganised to provide offices, consultation and clinic rooms.

There will also be treatment areas, a reception and waiting spaces, staff facilities, activity areas and access to the garden.

Three separate entrances are planned, one for each service, with accessible ramps or level thresholds.

Secretary’s Lane will also be reopened to controlled vehicle access for authorised drop-offs and collections, managed through a security-operated barrier.

External works will include repairs, re-rendering and a new colour scheme, using a muted yellow-ochre finish, blue shutters and white detailing.

The project also includes the upgrading of insulation, modern energy-efficient services and new plants in the garden.

The application received unanimous support from all the members of the Commission.

North Mole demolition noise

In another project, a request to extend working hours for the demolition of Extension Jetty Number Three at the North Mole was considered.

The contractor said longer hours would help complete the works between August and November and avoid an anticipated three-month delay.

But concerns were raised about nearby residential areas and gaps in the noise information provided.

Town Planning recommended restricting louder demolition works to daytime and evening hours, with no such activity on Sundays or public holidays, and lower-noise marine operations to be permitted later, subject to real-time noise monitoring, weekly reporting and restrictions on lighting and lifting operations.

The Commission accepted these recommendations with the proviso that permission be revoked if serious breaches take place.

St Joseph's Parking losses

A Government application to temporarily remove parking outside st Joseph’s School has been passed by majority, with Housing Minister Pat Orfila abstaining.

The Minister said she was deeply concerned at the loss of paid parking under the zone scheme without providing alternative facilities.

The loss of parking has been planned so that temporary portacabin classrooms can be set up in the area while works to St Joseph’s School continue.

The application has been approved by a slim majority but the DPC will write to the relevant Government departments and convey the concerns that have been expressed.