Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1501675
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 JUNE 2023 NEWS ANALYSIS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Second attempt to develop 41,000sq.m Mosta site Another major zoning application involving develop- ment on an area equivalent to five football grounds is be- ing proposed in the vicinity of the Cumbo Tower between Mosta and Attard. An application by the same owners on the same plot of land had been rejected by the Planning Authority in March 2017 weeks before the general election. The application was refused by the PA's executive coun- cil by five votes against two in a landmark decision which was welcomed by NGOs who interpreted it as a clear sign that the 2006 extension was not cast in stone. According to the minutes of the meeting the applica- tion was rejected because as proposed the development did "not constitute an example of good urban design in terms of street layout, density and mix of residential and other development and the provision of green, public open space". Moreover, the development did not integrate well with the existing urban fabric and did not contribute to the ob- jectives of the SPED which seeks the provision of social and community facilities in urban areas and the protection of the character and amenity of urban areas. The same landowners presented a new application in 2019 which allocates a green area of 905sq.m buffering the cemetery from the development. The application is still being assessed by the Planning Authority. Fgura site Another sizeable application presented by developer An- ton Camilleri foresees five storey high residential develop- ment on a 23,000 square metres scrap yard on Triq id-Dej- ma, Triq il-Parroċċa and Triq il-Merħba in Fgura. The Fgura local council had objected to the application describing a proposed open space over 15% of the site as "misleading", given that this would eventually mostly con- sist of access roads. Other substantial developments are earmarked at Bir- zebbuga along Triq il-Fossili (13,200sq.m), and Siggie- wi in fields along Triq Salvu Borg Olivier (8,628sq.m), in Iklin opposite a disused fireworks factory (8,500sq.m) and in Gharghur near the Mc Donalds outlet at Tal-Balal (6,650sq.m). San Lawrenz Zurrieq Siggiewi Mosta Qrendi Mgarr Safi Gharghur