Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/801885
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 22 MARCH 2017 JEANELLE MIFSUD THE Planning Authority yester- day decided to refuse the applica- tion for the intensive development on agricultural land in Mosta. The development proposed a three-f loor building with a semi- basement with a building height of 17.5 metres above street level, over a footprint of 38,600 square metres on the land adjoining the Cumbo Tower, along Durumblat road. The land in question used to be located outside development zones, but is now legally de- velopable by virtue of the con- troversial 2006 rationalisation scheme. Alternattiva Demokratika ap- plauded the decision, calling it "an indication that hopefully common sense is not completely absent in land use planning." Carmel Cacopardo, the party's deputy chairperson, added that the decision, however, was not "the end of the story." The 2006 government decision resulted in around two million square me- tres of land on the periphery of towns and villages being given up for development, he said. "It is essential that before this application is further considered or reconsidered, as will inevita- bly happen, that the social, eco- nomic and the environmental impacts of this proposed mas- sive development is adequately considered." Cacopardo supported his argu- ment by pointing to a 2011 cen- sus that had identified that, out of 8,359 residential units in Mo- sta, 16.2% were vacant and 3.2% only occasionally in use. "On its own this is more than sufficient reason to discourage this type of development," Cacopardo said, calling for a revision of the 2006 government decision. Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) also welcomed the re- jection, having been challeng- ing the rationalisation scheme in court since 2007, along with the Ramblers Association and Friends of the Earth (Malta). "While FAA recognises that le- gal commitments have been en- tered to, this government is still in time to mitigate the damage by avoiding intense over-devel- opment of sites as was proposed in Mosta and many other areas in Malta and Gozo," FAA said in a statement. The organisation highlight- ed that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had been vehemently opposed to the rationalisation plans in his position as Oppo- sition leader. Now, FAA said, Muscat is able to ensure that the actual development of the al- ready-committed sites is carried out in such a way "to cause least damage by leaving open recrea- tional green areas." FAA also suggested that the government introduce the re- quirement that development of these rationalisation sites be carbon-neutral ahead of the stipulated time. News Planning Authority turns down proposed development in Mosta The development proposed a three-floor building with a semi-basement with a building height of 17.5 meters above street level