Minister for Social Accommodation Roderick Galdes visited to the social housing blocks of Ħal Mula in Ħaż-Żebbuġ following the completion of a regeneration project – which renovated 14 blocks housing 84 families – through an investment of approximately €527,788.
Minister Roderick Galdes described the existing social housing buildings as, “resources that are there to meet the needs that develop in society, generation after generation. Therefore, it does not make any sense to let them decay. Allowing the social housing buildings to degenerate would be a grave loss to the whole of society.”
This regeneration project is part of a wider initiative of repairs, structural works and rehabilitation of public buildings built for social housing purposes in the post-World War II period. In fact, these works consisted of external structure interventions, both in terms of water proofing of roofs and parapets as well as the replacement of metal beams. In addition to this, the Ministry for Social Accommodation has carried out other works including interior and exterior painting, the upgrading of the electrical system, and the replacement of aluminium in various blocks.
Minister Roderick Galdes stated that, “These 14 blocks were part of a 19-block project constructed in the same period. We are now undertaking the biggest social project since the 70s with the construction of 1,700 new social housing units that will breathe new life and provide an opportunity for a decent future to thousands of Maltese families.”
All the work from the 2020 programme have been completed on the blocks located in Rabat, Żejtun, Cospicua, Saint Julian’s, Santa Luċija, and Siġġiewi. In terms of the 2021 programme, roof maintenance work, and the coating and painting work in the common areas of blocks located in Birgu, San Ġwann, Santa Luċija and Ħal Luqa have also been completed. Until now, almost half of more than 1,000 social accommodation blocks have been regenerated.
Photos: DOI/MSA
