Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1072992
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 JANUARY 2019 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE land formerly owned by Na- tionalist MP Toni Bezzina in Rabat is once again earmarked for construc- tion, after the property was sold on to a property agent. The new owner is now trying his luck with planning policies permit- ting the reconstruction of former countryside dwellings as villas out- side development zones, at a short distance from Saqqaja Hill. Bezzina had been forced to with- draw a planning application in Feb- ruary 2017 filed by his wife for a three-bedroom dwelling, swimming pool, garages and driveway disguised as a "restoration of derelict World War II structures", after being outed by Labour party organ Kullħadd. Since then the property, which in- cludes an almond grove, has changed ownership and a new application has been presented by Angelo D'Arrigo, a Remax property agent who declared full ownership of the site. The proposal is uncannily similar to the previous one, proposing the res- toration of "existing habitable struc- tures" and their consolidation as a single dwelling accompanied with a pool and gate. The Environment and Resources Authority has warned that the de- velopment proposed will result in a substantial increase in the structure's footprint and deemed the develop- ment incompatible with the site's designation as an Area of High Land- scape Value. Various objectors have pointed out that the dilapidated structures used as an excuse for the new develop- ment, consist of a few walls of rooms previously used by the British mili- tary. The Rural Development Guidelines issued in 2014 include a clause which specifically allows the "rehabilita- tion and change of use of architec- tural historical or vernacular inter- est" allowing their transformation into dwellings. This explained why Bezzina had described the roofless structures as "WWII living quarters." Another policy permits the demoli- tion of rural structures which lack historical value and their transforma- tion into dwellings, if proof of previ- ous residence is submitted. This may explain why the structures are now referred to as "habitable structures". MP's Saqqaja land again earmarked for ODZ villa JAMES DEBONO THE development of 14 'luxury' bungalows in Zurrieq's Wied Babu is being linked to an "en- vironment management plan" for the valley, most of which is owned by Baldacchino Hold- ings, the current owners of the Garden of Eden wedding hall. According to the company's project development statement for the project, the bungalows will be built instead of the Gar- den of Eden wedding hall com- plex and its adjacent illegal car- park, but will also "extend [the] built structures to a wider area, resulting in urban sprawl in the outside development zone". In all, they will build 14 one- storey "cabanas" of 170sq.m each with pool and terraced area. Eight will be sited on the car park, currently subject to a planning enforcement notice issued in 1998. The others are being proposed instead of the wedding hall, nightclub and an old farmhouse. But the site overlaps with an Area of Ecological Importance and Special Area of Conserva- tion of International Impor- tance. "Even though no new struc- tures will be built in the desig- nated areas, the Scheme could influence the surrounding en- vironment through increased activity in the area and through construction activities," the PDS notes. There will be a lower impact on bird populations, as it will result in a reduction in noise pollution due to the closure of the reception halls and also of the disco. "Nonetheless, special care should be taken to ensure that any light pollution from devel- opment is avoided and miti- gated." In March 2018, the Environ- ment and Resources Authority made it clear that the illegal car park should not be used as a pretext for more development. "The disturbed state of the site is not considered as a valid commitment justifying further development." Instead it said the car park should be restored to its pris- tine state in line with a method statement approved by the au- thorities. The aim of the project is to create "a unique, short-term ac- commodation units within the beautiful setting of Wied Babu", attracting a niche market by providing high-quality accom- modation. "The scheme will be providing tourist accommoda- tion in a rural setting and in an area that has many tourist attractions but has limited ac- commodation available." To mitigate the environmen- tal impact 161 trees will be planted and the roofs of the cabanas will be landscaped. The cabanas, each of which will have a pool area, will en- joy breath-taking views of the Blue Grotto, It-Torri ta' Xutu at Wied iż-Żurrieq, the open sea and Filfla. Wied Babu mostly owned by Garden of Eden developers JAMES DEBONO LIDL'S plans for a new supermarket on the site of a scrap-yard along Triq id-Dejma in Fgura seems to be heading towards a refusal, after the Planning Authority's directorate described the proposed development as "excessive and deleterious" for the surrounding residential area. The local plan approved in 2006 had specified that development on this site, which was included to development boundaries, should include recreation- al facilities in the form of public urban open spaces, social and community fa- cilities apart from residential and com- mercial development. A planning application to develop the area had been presented by Lidl in 2016 but this was later withdrawn, following a screening letter in which the PA in- formed the developers that the project was not in line with the local plan. Subsequently Lidl submitted a Plan- ning Control Application through which they tried to change the local plan to accommodate a supermarket over an area of 2,800sq.m and an ad- jacent carpark over 5,600sq.m of land apart from the other uses foreseen in the local plan. But the case officer concluded that the development as proposed would have a deleterious impact on its surround- ings and would result in a considerable shortfall in public open space. Noting that the supermarket and its carpark would cover 38% of the site the case officer described the proposed de- velopment as disproportionate. Only 15% of the total site area was identified as a public open space in the application presented by Lidl. The proposal submitted by Lidl seeks to establish the planning parameters for a mixed-use development compris- ing a supermarket and ancillary facili- ties, public open space, residential units and commercial retail floor space at the scrap-yard on Triq id-Dejma in Fgura. A height of 17.50 metres is being pro- posed. A final decision will be taken by the PA's Executive Council – which deter- mines planning control applications – in the next weeks. The Fgura Local Council had objected to the proposal because of the lack of public open spaces and social and com- munity facilities foreseen in the local plan. Lidl's Fgura plans hit brick wall An "environment management plan" for the valley, most of which is owned by Baldacchino Holdings, the current owners of the Garden of Eden wedding hall