Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1436880
9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 DECEMBER 2021 NEWS Four-storey office block proposed on B'kara Bypass townhouse JAM ES DEBONO A four-storey office block with three underlying parking lev- els is being proposed on the site of a townhouse and its garden fronting the Dun Karm Bypass. The house abuts a narrow, rural alley, Sqaq it-Tiġieġ, and a row of two-storey buildings along Triq San Ġiljan. Plans foresee the retention of the façade and the front garden overlooking Triq San Ġiljan, while a new modern structure will face the bypass and the arrow alley instead of existing garages. Two of the proposed floors will be reced- ed. Existing trees will make way for a slipway road to facil- itate access to the office block. Part of the site forms part of a hamlet where development is restricted to the committed footprint of existing buildings, and where shops are only al- lowed for local usage. But most of the garden earmarked for development lies outside the boundaries of the outside-de- velopment-zones settlement. Although sandwiched be- tween Birkirkara and the San Gwann industrial area and Mater Dei hospital, the ODZ status of the area creates a buffer between the two dense- ly urbanised localities. In 2007, the Planning Au- thority approved an outline application for the demoli- tion of the building, retaining the existing front for the con- struction of a building "not exceeding the height of exist- ing front elevation". This was done against the recommend- ed refusal of the case officer. But a full planning application was never presented and the development was not carried out. A similar application for a clinic and showroom and two-storey residence, was al- so withdrawn after a case of- ficer's refusal in 2018. The lat- est proposal does not include a showroom and residential apartments, but is one storey higher than the 2018 applica- tion. The case officer objected to the scale of the proposed de- velopment, finding it to be "over-development". While noting the retention of the original façade, the Superin- tendence for Cultural Herit- age had also objected to dem- olition and "the obliteration" of the garden and the removal "of distinctive architectural elements". The Environment and Resources Authority had also warned that the 2018 de- velopment would set an "un- desirable precedent for simi- lar future development which would lead to loss of such green spaces within ODZ". POSTS FOR LAWYER WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Jobsplus Vacancy No. 369626, Permit Nos. 273/2021) The Office of the Attorney General Agency is inviting applications for Lawyers to carry out prosecution and related duties. The selected candidates will be employed on a full-time indefinite term basis, subject to a probation period, and will be required to work for a minimum of forty hours per week. Applicants must be in possession of a warrant to practice the profession of Advocate and, must also have at least one year experience in the practice of the profession covered by a warrant. POSTS FOR TRAINEE LAWYER WITH THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Jobsplus Vacancy No. 376134, Permit Nos. 689/2021) The Office of the Attorney General Agency is inviting applications for Trainee Lawyers to carry out prosecution and related duties. The selected candidates will be employed on a full-time indefinite term basis, subject to a probation period, and will be required to work for a minimum of forty hours per week. Applicants must have completed their U.O.M. law degree and are qualified as M.Adv or LL.D. ______________________________________________________________ _____________ Applications must quote relevant Jobsplus Vacancy Reference, include a detailed CV, and should be addressed to: The Administration Office of the Attorney General, No. 53, Admiralty House, South Street, Valletta VLT 1101 or emailed to ag@attorneygeneral.mt and should be submitted by not later than Friday 7th January 2022 at 13:00 hrs. Part of the site forms part of a hamlet where development is restricted to the committed footprint of existing buildings, and where shops are only allowed for local usage. But most of the garden earmarked for development lies outside the boundaries of the outside-development-zones settlement