Manoel Island's Future at Risk: Can Activists Stop Illegal Padel Courts from Getting Approved?

In March 2026, the Planning Authority issued a halt order on illegal padel court construction at Manoel Island, a move that exposes deeper tensions over Malta's commitment to turning the site into a national park as promised. Despite the halt, the courts—built without permits by Gżira United Football Club—remain largely intact, and activists now warn the government may be preparing to retroactively sanction the unauthorized works rather than force their removal.

Why This Matters

• Legal precedent at stake: If the courts are sanctioned post-construction, it sets a dangerous framework for future illegal builds on protected land.

• Public trust in jeopardy: The island was returned to public ownership in March 2026 after a 99-year concession to MIDI plc ended, with the government pledging €43M in refunds to ensure a car-free national park open to all.

• Community voice ignored: Over 29,000 residents—roughly 5% of Malta's population—signed a petition demanding the island become a nature and heritage park, not a site for commercial sports facilities.

How a Football Club Built Courts Without Approval

The padel complex, located on government-owned land known as the Nicholl Ground, is leased to Gżira United FC. Club president Sharlon Pace spearheaded the project, which was reportedly nearing completion even though planning application PA/07995/25 was still in the initial screening phase—meaning no formal approval had been granted.

Activist groups Moviment Graffitti and the Manoel Island: Post Għalina campaign alerted the PA to the illegal construction. The authority issued a stop order, but enforcement has been inconsistent. The football club has since filed an application to retroactively legalize the courts, a tactic that environmental advocates argue undermines the rule of law and the island's designated future.

Prime Minister Robert Abela publicly stated that all works must comply with legal procedures, yet concerns persist that political will may favor regularization over demolition.

What This Means for Residents

For Maltese residents who campaigned for years to reclaim Manoel Island as public space, the padel court saga represents a critical test. The island's transformation into a national park was meant to prioritize open green space, heritage conservation, and community access—not private commercial ventures disguised as sports facilities.

If the PA sanctions the courts, it signals that illegal construction can be forgiven if completed quickly enough, a precedent that threatens any future masterplan. Conversely, if the government orders demolition, it reaffirms Malta's commitment to transparent planning processes and the public's right to determine the island's use.

The broader question is whether Manoel Island will serve as a genuine public amenity or continue to be carved up by special interests, whether commercial developers or football clubs with political connections.

The Long Battle Over Manoel Island's Future

Manoel Island has been contested territory for decades. In 2000, the government granted MIDI plc a 99-year concession to develop the island and neighboring Tigné Point. While Tigné saw rapid construction, Manoel Island remained largely undeveloped, with public access blocked from 1999 to 2016.

The original outline permit approved in 1998 envisioned nearly 500 residences and 95,000 sq.m of new construction. But as public sentiment shifted toward preserving open space, MIDI revised its plans to focus on adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, including Fort Manoel (a star-shaped fort built between 1723 and 1733 by Grand Master António Manoel de Vilhena) and the Lazzaretto (a quarantine hospital operational for over 250 years).

MIDI's failure to meet an 85% project completion deadline by March 2026 triggered a landmark agreement: the government reclaimed Manoel Island and Fort Tigné in exchange for refunding MIDI €43M for verified restoration and infrastructure costs. The island was officially designated a national park, with the vision emphasizing a car-free, serene public space where any commercial activity is limited and revenues are reinvested into upkeep.

The Manoel Island Foundation, established by the Gżira local council and MIDI, was tasked with managing the site through community guardianship.

Moviment Graffitti's Vision: A Park, Not a Profit Center

Moviment Graffitti, a vocal advocate for environmental and social justice in Malta, has championed the "Manoel Island: Post Għalina" campaign alongside Flimkien għall-Ambjent Aħjar (FAA). Their vision is uncompromising: the island must become a national nature and heritage park that integrates natural ecosystems, historical architecture, and cultural memory.

Key elements of their plan include:

• Zero private commercial interests: Any development must serve the public good, not corporate profit. The padel courts, they argue, are antithetical to this principle.

• Community-led management: Local guardianship with enforcement authority to oversee events and protect the island's character.

• Holistic masterplan: A comprehensive blueprint developed through workshops with residents, experts, and the public, ensuring the island reflects Malta's collective priorities rather than backroom deals.

The organization has condemned the retroactive sanctioning process, arguing it "undermines the public's desire for a national heritage park" and sets a precedent for future violations.

Why This Isn't Just About Padel Courts

The Manoel Island padel controversy is emblematic of a larger governance challenge in Malta: how to balance development pressures with the preservation of limited public space on one of the Mediterranean's most densely populated islands.

The island's history is instructive. In 2021, construction was halted due to an annulled Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and outline development permit linked to a conflict of interest and allegations of fraudulent permits. The recurring pattern—illegal works, weak enforcement, retroactive sanctioning—has eroded public confidence in Malta's planning system.

For activists, the issue is existential. Malta has few remaining open spaces, and Manoel Island represents a rare opportunity to create a car-free, nature-focused park in an urban context. According to activist proposals, the Glacis Park concept would dedicate significant portions of the former MIDI concession to public open space, a cornerstone of this vision.

If the government allows the padel courts to stand, it risks signaling that commercial convenience trumps community planning, even on land explicitly designated for public use.

What Happens Next?

The Planning Authority now faces a choice: uphold the halt order and demand demolition, or approve the retroactive application and legitimize the illegal construction. The decision will likely be influenced by political pressure, public outcry, and legal challenges from activist groups.

Meanwhile, the government must finalize a comprehensive masterplan for Manoel Island that respects the national park designation and the 29,000 signatures demanding public access. The masterplan process, which was underway when the padel courts were illegally built, is now further complicated by the need to address the unauthorized structures.

For residents of Gżira and the broader Maltese public, the stakes are clear: Manoel Island is a test of whether Malta can prioritize long-term public benefit over short-term private gain. The outcome will shape not only the island's future but also the credibility of Malta's planning enforcement and the government's commitment to its promises.

Drone footage of the padel works, circulated by activists, has provided undeniable visual evidence of the scale of construction—courts, fencing, lighting—making it difficult for authorities to claim ignorance or minimize the violation. The images have galvanized public opinion and put additional pressure on the PA to act decisively.