Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1385129
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 JUNE 2021 NEWS Finest Quality Chairs and Tables 2, Triq Sant Andrija, Luqa (Opposite to School) 9926 2807 Beechwood Malta www.beechwoodltd.com beechwoodltd@hotmail.com NEW MODELS EUROPA BW4032 BW147 BW204 JAMES DEBONO THE Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage is objecting to a large-scale development in Bur- marrad on an undeveloped plot of disused agricultural land near the petrol station opposite the Kiabi discount store. It described the "hypermodern design" as being "incongruous" with the rural context of Burmar- rad and warned approval would prejudice any attempt "to pre- serve traditional facades in the context of the village of Burmar- rad." The plans were presented by Emmanuel Fenech, a director of Easysell Properties which is based in Portomaso and formerly was part of the Tumas Group. The development comprises four storeys and a receded floor for a drive-thru restaurant, of- fices, and two-level basement parking. The project will mean uprooting of a number of mature pine and almond trees. Unlike the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage, the Environ- ment and Resources Authority has not objected and limited itself to requesting more information about the development, includ- ing details on the trees which will have to be chopped. The government recently ap- proved changes to the local plan that was tailor-made to accom- modate the owners of commer- cial establishments along Bur- marrad Road. The local plan in 2006 had already permitted limited de- velopment through its zoning as "an area of containment" - a designation for sites outside the development zone (ODZ) which already include commercial de- velopments. But it also limited any such development to one floor, and only retail and office development as ancillary to the main use of the site for "vehicle repairs and maintenance, stor- age, and showrooms." In 2018 the Labour government proposed changes which were approved by the Planning Au- thority to turn the 20,000sq.m stretch along Burmarrad Road into a full-blown commercial ar- ea. The area starts from the Bur- marrad Commercials compound near the Kiabi store, allowing four-storey commercial develop- ment rising to 17.5m, ending at the start of the Wardija hill by the Scotts supermarket. Zoning was also changed to include offices, retail shops and catering estab- lishment. But the policy itself still states that the design of the buildings in this zone "must take into account the rural context of the site and minimise impacts on long dis- tance views". However the PA can stil favour the "innovative utilization of modern materials". The Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage insists Easysell's development is at odds with this policy. Easysell had already planned a petrol station set on the same site, which was later abandoned after the PA approved a petrol station on a nearby plot of land owned by another company, Construction and Turnkey Ltd. Moviment Graffitti is objecting to the development, describing the proposed building as "out of place" in the Burmarrad rural setting, and insisting that retail shops and offices should not be allowed outside development zones. Since its election in 2013 the La- bour government has been hell- bent on pushing for the urbani- sation of Burmarrad, with the PA approving two ODZ petrol sta- tions and then lifting restrictions on the use of public land original- ly ceded to a farmers' coopera- tive, to allow it to be transformed into a discount store. The PA is currently considering a super- market proposal on land owned by developers Bonnici Brothers further down the road, with In- frastructure Malta proposing a roundabout just next to it. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt 'Hypermodern' drive-in eatery and office block not a fit for Burmarrad Government changes to local plan paved way for four-storey block being opposed by heritage watchdog Hypermodern and incongruous: The Superintendence for Cutural Heritage says this four-storey creation does not match the rural context at Burmarrad. Below: the present site, at the mouth of Burmarrad right off the main exit to St Paul's Bay