Court of Appeal Reinstates Evans Building Concession to Valletta Luxury Projects
In brief
- The Court of Appeal has reinstated the Evans Building concession to Valletta Luxury Projects.
- The court ruled that a discrepancy in the consortium's bid was a clerical error, not an unlawful amendment.
- This decision overturns a previous ruling by the Public Contracts Review Board (PCRB).
The Court of Appeal has ruled to reinstate the Evans Building concession to Valletta Luxury Projects. This decision follows a legal challenge concerning the consortium's bid for the 65-year concession.
The court found that a discrepancy in the bid submitted by Valletta Luxury Projects was a clerical error. It determined that this error did not constitute an unlawful amendment, thereby validating the original award.
This ruling overturns a previous decision made by the Public Contracts Review Board (PCRB). The PCRB had initially found issues with the bid, leading to the concession being contested.
Valletta Luxury Projects is a consortium led by the DeCesare family, known for the Eden Leisure Group. The concession involves the development and operation of the Evans Building site in Valletta.
The court's decision means that the government's original choice to award the concession to Valletta Luxury Projects has been upheld. This outcome blocks developer Paul Attard, who was also involved in the bidding process.
The Spin Room
Low media divide. Both Newsbook and The Shift News reported the court's decision consistently, focusing on the reinstatement of the concession.