Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1527188
7 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 29 SEPTEMBER 2024 CONSTRUCTION magnate Charles Polidano will be able to develop a 3,360sq.m plot of Żab- bar agricultural land into a series of terraced dwellings, after the Plan- ning Authority approved a zoning request. The site along Triq ix-Xghajra and Triq Agatha Barbara, which overlooks farmland between Żab- bar and Xgħajra, was included within development boundaries in the controversial extension of building zones carried out in 2006. The zoning permit sets the pa- rameters of the development, to now allow the developer to present an application to develop the site. Despite being earmarked for de- velopment in the 2006 extension, the site was until then still desig- nated as a 'Strategic Open Gap', and therefore excluded urban de- velopment. But this designation was overruled by the inclusion of the area in development zones. An existing vernacular building located on the northern part of the site will be retained as recommend- ed by the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage, which had strongly objected to initial plans to demol- ish it. Additionally, a 3m-wide gar- den along the southern side, and a 3.9m-wide garden along the east, will serve as buffers between the developable part of the site and the non-developable zone (ODZ), ensuring that no blank party walls face the latter part. The zoning was approved on the condition that the height of the de- velopment is restricted to a façade of 10m high, equivalent to two sto- reys and a semi-basement, as spec- ified in the local plan. However, the development could rise to 13.5m if a recessed floor is included. The PA's case officer said any de- cision on additional set-back floors and the design of the project can only be made following the sub- mission of a full planning applica- tion, when more detailed plans are presented. In December 2023, the develop- er's architect had presented a set of photomontages showing dwellings characterised by traditional Mal- tese balconies, rising to three full floors and two set-back floors. PA zones Zabbar fields for dwellings proposed by Polidano Photomontages of proposed development presented last year which included set-back floors that are not included in the zoning permit issued last week JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt