Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1503089
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 JULY 2023 NEWS NEWS JAMES DEBONO A historical farmhouse in Zabbar faces en- croachment from a proposed 16.3m-high res- idential development on agricultural land add- ed to the development zone in 2006. The farmhouse holds significance not only for its architectural merits but also as a sym- bol of Zabbar's social history and rural past. It deserves protection according to the Su- perintendence for Cultural Heritage. The development application to develop the 3,853sq.m site along Triq ix-Xghajra and Triq Agatha Barbara was presented in 2019 by Charles Polidano and is still being assessed. Originally slated for demolition, the farm- house was saved due to objections by the SCH. But in a report issued last week, the SCH has expressed concern that the new de- velopment will only be 1.5m away from the vernacular building. The farmhouse's traditional construction includes stone arches, kileb, and xorok, with a connection to an adjacent townhouse out- side the site through an arch across an alley- way. Recognising the cultural value of the farm- house and its context, the SCH recommends that the development be "terraced away" from the building. The adjacent development should be lim- ited to two floors and set back from the farmhouse, gradually reaching the proposed height towards the southern end of the site. Notably, the SCH proposes scheduling both the vernacular building and the adjacent townhouse as part of a group that includes It-Torri ta' Lourdes, located just 38m north of the site. These buildings collectively reflect the rural character of Zabbar and showcase traditional architecture from different periods. The site had previously been considered for a Lidl supermarket development in 2006, extending further into the Outside Develop- ment Zone (ODZ). However, the application was ultimately withdrawn following a recommendation for refusal by the case officer. Rationalisation encroaches on historical Zabbar farmhouse Plans have been amended to spare farmhouse from demolition, but the 16-metre-high development is being proposed less than 2m away from it Site photos taken by the SCH on 1 February 2023