Case Studies  A Regeneration Strategy for Valletta. Il-Biccerija Case Study

Issues of Valletta

Although the decline in residential population is one of the most problematic issues of Valletta, this definitely is not the sole problem. The decay of the general environment of the capital, excessive car presence, degradation of buildings, obsolete infrastructure, social problems, and the effect of tourism and commercial activity are some of the other issues which shall be discussed infra.

Case Studies  A Regeneration Strategy for Valletta. Il-Biccerija Case Study

Demographical Issues

Although Valletta was originally planned to have a Collacchio (an area strictly reserved for members of the Order), these plans were abandoned after internal objections from the Order itself. This could have been considered as an incentive to the flourishment of the population in the founding years of the new city. The population of the city maintained a steady growth under the Order, mainly as a result of the peaceful times, which followed the Great Siege of 1565. However, the highest figure in residential population was recorded in the 1881 census, under the British rule, when the figure reached 24,854. This implied that, at that time about 16.5% of the Maltese population lived in Valletta. At the time, the Grand Harbour was the main centre of commercial activity, and most opportunities for employment apart from those related to agriculture, were to be found in this area. It is probable that most of the subdivisions of the large houses of Valletta, into smaller housing units (kerrejja) were made during this era, so that the incoming population could be housed there. Although the census carried out between 1828 and 1931 show that population of Valletta remained somewhat stable (varying between 20,000 and 25,000), in the years following World War II, the residential population displayed a radical decline. According to the 1995 Census, the population of Valletta reached the low figure of 7,184, which is less than 2% of the total Maltese population. The trend is destined to continue, since most of the residential population consists of old people aged 60 and over. The percentage of this age group reaches 28.54% of the total population of Valletta, a figure which is only exceeded by the 30.11% of its suburb, Floriana. Figures indicates this, and compares the age group distribution of Valletta to the national percentages. This indicates that whilst the national trend is towards an increase in young population, the trend of Valletta is the reverse.

1. Introduction    Economic and Social Issues