An urban regeneration strategy for Valletta

Abstract

This study presents proposals for achieving an urban regeneration strategy for the capital city of Malta, Valletta. The study embarks on understanding the definition of the 'city' through a review of urban theories, and it is revealed that cities are not defined in simple terms due to their dynamic and complex function. It is also shown that without properly understanding the city, a proper vision for its regeneration cannot be obtained. With this definition of the city, statistical information pertaining to the study area was analysed to identify how Valletta fares in terms of urban decline. It is revealed that several indicators of urban decline are present and threaten the existence and sustainability of the Maltese Islands' capital. These indicators have included the presence of a progressive population decline, social deprivation, a high proportion of neglected and vacant buildings, over-commercialisation and inflating property prices, problems with accessibility within the city, as well as high levels of criminal activity.