8
NEWS
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 FEBRUARY 2023
A plot of agricultural land
which adjoins an existing fuel
station will not be developed
after the Planning Commis-
sion turned down an outline
application for a site to be used
for the construction of a res-
taurant with overlying offices
and an underground carpark.
e site which covers an area
of over 1,000m2 is an agri-
cultural area within the out-
side development zone of Ħal
Għaxaq along Triq Għar Da-
lam.
e PA Commission agreed
with the Development Man-
agement Directorate's recom-
mendation that the proposed
development will result in ur-
ban sprawl onto adjacent land
which is currently undevel-
oped.
e Commission also noted
that the project runs coun-
ter to the scope of the Rural
Policy and Design Guidance
and the Strategic Plan for En-
vironment and Development
(SPED) both of which seek
to protect good quality agri-
cultural land and ensure that
land take up in the rural area
is considered as a last resort
where it is essential for the
achievement of sustainable
development.
e Commission also point-
ed out that the proposed de-
velopment has direct access on
Triq Għar Dalam, which is a
distributor road from Għaxaq
to Marsaxlokk and Birżebuġia.
is will generate additional
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
