Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1498713
13 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 MAY 2023 JAMES DEBONO TRANSPORT Malta will not be able to assess the traffic impact of a commercial development proposed around Australia Hall, before the Planning Authori- ty approves new zoning for its floor area and building enve- lope. This is because these studies will be required at a later stage when developers submit a plan- ning application, after zoning approval which would then commit the site for develop- ment. The zoning application will set the building envelope, site cov- erage and number of floors to be developed on a 3,870sq.m area around the historical Australia Hall. The plans are for three "mixed use" blocks ranging between five and six floors, and the res- toration of Australia Hall itself. Some 2,400sq.m of the total 6,331sq.m site will be retained as open public space. The development is by AH De- velopments, which is owned by the Fino Group. The group had dropped earlier plans for a high- rise development in the area. In January, Transport Malta informed the PA it had no ob- jection to the development even while adding that the site was in "a traffic sensitive area". TM warned that if the studies con- ducted reveal increased traffic generation that would have a "deleterious effect on the road network", TM would not view the development application fa- vourably. Subsequently in April, TM said it was not in a position to comment further on this appli- cation "in view of the fact that transport studies have not been requested for this application." Plans for a revamp of the road network, including a tun- nel passing under a Natura 2000 site linking Pembroke and St George's Bay, have been dormant since 2020. The zoning request for Aus- tralia Hall exposes a lacuna in the planning process, which of- ten sees the PA setting the plan- ning parameters that create a commitment for development, in the absence of traffic and oth- er studies normally conducted when a more detailed planning application is presented. The reason for this is that de- tails on the specifics of the de- velopment, such as the number of units and retail outlets, are only known at that later stage. In the meantime, the Superin- tendence for Cultural Heritage has also issued its go-ahead for the approval of the zoning ap- plication, while reserving its as- sessment of the project's design to a later stage when a full plan- ning application is presented. While the proposed layout of the project is deemed by the SCH to be "broadly acceptable", issues related to the design of the project and mitigation measures to limit the impact on Australia Hall itself "will require further engagement at full ap- plication stage". The SCH suggested that it would accept the dismantling and sensitive relocation of pro- tected latrines, located towards the west of the Australia Hall, to allow an improved open space. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Australia Hall zoning to be approved before traffic studies Zoning request to set parameters of development around Australia Hall could be approved before traffic studies determine impact of project Transport Malta will not be able to assess the traffic impact of a commercial development proposed around Australia Hall, before the Planning Authority approves new zoning for its floor area and building envelope