Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1169316
19.09.19 16 TOWNSCAPES THE Planning Authority, following guidance from Government, has pub- lished a number of proposed policy changes for a site area in Ta' Qali which is presently and inappropriately zoned as an industrial area, adjacent to the Malta National Park. e primary scope behind this partial review is to designate the site, char- acterized by mixed uses, as a quality commercial destination through sus- tainable architectural and urban de- sign with adequate infrastructure pro- vision. e new Ta' Qali Commercial area will purposefully mitigate against the negative impact that the current uses are having on the character of the sur- rounding area, particularly the formal and informal recreational area. The amended policy is proposing that at this site which is accessed di- rectly from Vjal L-Istadjum Nazzjon- ali and Triq L-Idwart, only land uses related to supermarkets, medical clinics, educational facilities, offices, retail outlets, storage/distribution fa- cilities and food and drink outlets will be permitted. e proposed policy stipulates that any new development on the perim- eter of the site area facing the ODZ shall have a facade height of not more than eight metres, while development on the perimeter of the site facing the American embassy and the carpark shall have a facade height of not more than 11m. e overall height for all the site shall be subject to a Visual Impact Assess- ment on views to and from the Mdina promontory, the Area of High Land- scape Value and the embassy site. Mitigation measures identified in this assessment may require limitations on the allowable heights of buildings. e introduction of green infrastruc- ture measures, such as the use of sus- tainable building materials, a design which allows for passive environmen- tal control and the integration of car- bon-reduction measures are to be fa- vourably considered. A planning gain contribution of Euro 25 per sqm of new gross developable floor space (GDF) permitted within the site is also being proposed. e funds generated from this plan- ning gain will be directed towards the upgrading of recreational facilities and other environmental initiatives within the Ta' Qali National Park. Interested parties may download the proposed amended policy framework from the Planning Authority's website www.pa.org.mt/consultation. Representations on the proposed re- view are to be made in writing and sent through e-mail address: nwlp.taqali@ pa.org.mt. Submissions are to reach the Author- ity by Friday 25 October 2019. PA proposes policy review to change industrial site into a new quality commercial destination in Ta' Qali Embassy of the United States