Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500237
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 MAY 2023 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE development of a shopping village instead of the Schembri Barbros plant at Triq tal-Barrani will require a new roundabout at the Zejtun intersection, planning documents show. Higher traffic volumes generat- ed by the proposed retail and lei- sure park will require a two-line roundabout instead of the exist- ing traffic lights. The shopping village is being proposed by Anton Schembri of Schembri Barbros Ltd instead of industrial garages and a con- crete batching plant that occupy 23,520sq.m of land next to the Lidl supermarket. According to the latest plans the retail and leisure complex will be built over three floors (10.5m) on a footprint of 14,220sq.m. Two levels of underground park- ing are set to accommodate 1,014 parking spaces. Apart from shops, the village will include a 2,500sq.m un- derground gymnasium and a 700sq.m childcare centre set on the second level. The upper floor will include 7,000sq.m of food and beverage outlets. The pro- ject envisages a total floor area of 18,700sq.m dedicated to retail. The existing Lidl supermarket will be retained. The Project Development Statement submitted by the de- velopers, states that the aim of the project is to provide "a land- mark retail and leisure park" which will be "the first one of its size and concept in the south of Malta". The project aims to provide a holistic experience to families offering "various services from a single location with easy access and adequate parking provision", something which is "generally lacking in other commercial out- lets located within town centres". The other major benefit of the project according to its propo- nents is the "complete removal" of the industrial complex which they also own and is located just 200m away from the residential development boundary of Għax- aq. According to the PDS, prevail- ing northwest winds blow dust generated at the plant directly to- wards Għaxaq creating a contin- uous nuisance to residents. But the development will also generate "very high traffic flows which cannot be catered for by the existing infrastructure". The PDS says the construction of a new roundabout to improve junction flows is essential for the development of the shopping vil- lage The document refers to plans by Infrastructure Malta to up- grade the junction. "Infrastructure Malta intends to upgrade this junction to a two- lane roundabout with slip roads connecting Triq Tal-Barrani with Triq Vjal il-25 Novembru, which will also permit access to the commercial complex," the docu- ment says. The modifications required also include the widening of lanes to 8m, and an increase in the entry width of the different arms of the junction. Plans submitted online do not indicate any take-up of surround- ing agricultural land. No applica- tion has been submitted so far by Infrastructure Malta for the pro- posed road works. One of the major negative im- pacts of the project identified in the PDS is the height of the pro- posed building which will rise to nearly 11m. To minimise the impact, the building will be set back further from the arterial road, "hence creating a larger buffer space and better visual backdrop when viewed from passing vehicles" The environmental impact of the proposed shopping village is still being analysed by the Envi- ronment and Resources Author- ity. Massive Ghaxaq shopping village needs new roundabout on Tal-Barrani junction with Zejtun Above: The site opposite the Zejtun junction and (right) the proposed development