Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1321294
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 DECEMBER 2020 10 NEWS THIS CHRISTMAS, THE PREFECT GIFT IS LOVE. WITH YOUR DONATION, WE CAN HELP THOSE IN NEED. www.richmond.org.mt/the-gift-of-therapy/ Marsa: new supermarket next to flyover JAMES DEBONO A 1,500sq.m supermarket and a large ground level parking area catering for 145 vehicles is being proposed on the site of the Bezzina shipyard in Marsa. Only 55% of the site will be developed on the site already zoned for offices and showrooms in the local plans. The site is presently used for heavy plant storage, a mechanical workshop and a repair facility and is surrounded by high walls. In a project development statement (PDS) submitted to the Environment Resources Authority, the developers specify that they do not exclude further development on the site, stating that as proposed the project is "leaving po- tential for other commercial use in the future". But "the (current) project is being designed with maximum regard to the creation of open space and low density built development". They promise that the "large open spaces and aesthetical- ly pleasing materials and design" will benefit the area which is presently "en- closed by high walls and structures". The PDS points out that the devel- opers are reducing the density of this proposed development keeping 45% of the site undeveloped and limiting the height of the development to 11m in- stead of the 22-29m meters allowed by the local plan. A large part of the site is also being al- located for 145 parking spaces. The site has two main access on the public road leading to Triq Aldo Moro and Triq il-Labour. The arterial and distributor road networks is currently being upgraded through a Grade Separated junction with the PDS pointing out that this will "remove the bottleneck which was known to prevail in this area due to the conflicting traffic movements to and from all extremities of the island at this Marsa Junction". As proposed, the gate on Triq il-La- bour will be used solely for scheduled delivery of merchandise and waste car- rier operations. The main customer entrance will be through a service road exiting in to Triq Aldo Moro. This will enable the bulk of the traffic volume to be distributed into the exist- ing public road network surrounding the site before spreading out on the ar- terial and distributor road network in different directions. A site presently used for heavy plant storage, a mechanical workshop and a repair facility, will be the site of a new supermarket on the Aldo Moro road of Marsa