10
COMMERCIAL
2.2.2023
A plot of agricultural land
which adjoins an existing
fuel station will not be de-
veloped after the Planning
Commission turned down
an outline application for a
site to be used for the con-
struction of a restaurant
with overlying offices and an
underground carpark.
The site which covers an
area of over 1,000m2 is an
agricultural area within the
outside development zone of
Ħal Għaxaq along Triq Għar
Dalam.
The PA Commission
agreed with the Develop-
ment Management Directo-
rate's recommendation that
the proposed development
will result in urban sprawl
onto adjacent land which is
currently undeveloped.
The Commission also not-
ed that the project runs
counter to the scope of the
Rural Policy and Design
Guidance and the Strategic
Plan for Environment and
Development (SPED) both of
which seek to protect good
quality agricultural land and
ensure that land take up in
the rural area is considered
as a last resort where it is es-
sential for the achievement
of sustainable development.
The Commission also
pointed out that the pro-
posed development has di-
rect access on Triq Għar
Dalam, which is a distrib-
utor road from Għaxaq to
Marsaxlokk and Birżebuġia.
This will generate addition-
al vehicle movements that
would give rise to potential
traffic hazards and adversely
affect the free and safe flow
of traffic.
PA turns down
mixed use
development
on agricultural
land in Ghaxaq
