Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1216530
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 MARCH 2020 NEWS OPEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION In 2005, the Planning Authority had approved a document which set out a planning policy framework for implementing the land use planning objectives of the Seveso II Directive. The Seveso II Directive has been subsequently replaced by Seveso III Directive. As a result, the Planning Authority carried out a review of the 2005 Planning Policy. The policy document provides land-use guidance in the eventuality that new sites are proposed for the development of industrial plants which produce or operate using dangerous chemicals. The document also concerns any modifications to existing hazardous sites or proposed developments in the vicinity of existing sites. The proposed policy review may be downloaded from the Planning Authority website www.pa.org.mt/consultation The public is being invited to submit comments on the review policy. Representations are to be made in writing and sent through e-mail address: seveso@pa.org.mt Submissions are to reach the Authority by 27th March 2020. Review of the Supplementary Planning Policy Guidance on Major Accident Hazards and Hazardous Substances (2005) HAVE YOUR SAY (Phase 2) www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY JAMES DEBONO THE developers of the Tigné Point and Manoel Island pro- ject have been allowed to trans- fer 8,000sq.m of developable space from one project to the other. MIDI plc will be able to carry out a 9,000sq.m development at Tigné by transferring 8,000sq.m of floor space it will not develop on Manoel Island, despite hav- ing nearly used all its allocated floor space at Tigné Point. The latest addition at Tigné will be a 17-storey building for 63 apartments overlooking a restored garden battery. Back in 1999, the Planning Authority approved a total floor space of 132,055sq.m in Tigné. It now transpires that only 956sq.m of floor space has not been utilised in the various de- velopments already approved in Tigné. But amendments to the Ma- noel Island masterplan, ap- proved in March 2019, had reduced MIDI's available floor- space in the Gzira project by 8,000sq.m. Despite the decrease in floor space, the Manoel Island pro- ject still involves an increase in the number of residential units from 415 to 610 when compared to the 1999 master- plan. The project includes a 5-star hotel inside the Lazza- retto complex, an 8,449sq.m re- tail complex, a marina for 183 berths and 3,695sq.m allocated for sports facilities. A recent PA board meeting discussing changes to the Ma- noel Island masterplan, re- vealed that 8,000sq.m of floor space in Gzira would now be transferred to the Tigné pro- ject. The issue had caused some controversy in the PA board. Labour MP Clayton Bartolo, who represented the govern- ment on the PA board, had warned that the transfer would impact the Tigné masterplan, and requested a clarification before a decision is taken on Manoel Island. But asked last year by Mal- taToday whether Midi's lat- est application includes the 8,000sq.m of floor space, the company would not commit itself. "At the moment a 'yes or no' answer is not possible as Midi is currently reconciling the devel- oped areas with the PA which is likely to take a little time," the spokesperson had said. The PA's Planning Directo- rate is recommending positive- ly this reduction in floor space since it would contribute in a decrease in massing and density on Manoel Island. It also con- tends that the transfer of devel- opment rights of the 8,000sq.m unused floorspace to the Tigné area is in line with the emphy- teutical grant. Additionally, the garden battery project is also part of the eligible floor area for a total of 8,956sq.m of floor space. But since the total proposed floor area for the Tigné addition is 9,160sq.m, it still exceeds the threshold by 204sq.m. Even so, the PA's planning directorate is of the opinion that this addi- tional floor area can be consid- ered as marginal and negligible, in comparison to its context and size of the whole project. The project now set for ap- proval consists of four base- ment levels catering for 81 car parking spaces, and rising up to 17 storeys, seven of which will receded and include 63 resi- dential units. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage had initially objected to the development expressing its "grave concern that the proposed building Q3 will obscure the context of the Garden Battery and any visuals of the gun emplacements". But following a site inspection the SCH dropped its objections after noting that what is left of the Garden Battery has already lost its visuals to the open sea due to "a massive concrete structure forming part of the road tunnel on the side". Manoel Island downsizing gives MIDI 63 extra apartments in Tigné MIDI will exceed f loor area granted to it in 1999 by 204sq.m if 17-storey tower is approved MIDI plc will be able to carry out a 9,000sq.m development at Tigné by transferring 8,000sq.m of floor space it will not develop on Manoel Island, despite having nearly used all its allocated floor space at Tigné Point