Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535569
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 21 MAY 2025 NEWS ERA clears San Gwann ODZ private school proposal THE Environment and Resources Author- ity (ERA) has said that it has "no objection" to the development of a private school lo- cated outside development zones (ODZ) in San Ġwann, after considering the "site con- text" and presenting a map showing other existing commitments in the area. The school is being proposed on 2,628 square metres of agricultural land, opposite the roundabout facing the Liquid Club in San Ġwann. The ODZ site lies at the intersection of Triq tal-Balal and Triq l-Ibraġ, in an area already characterised by industrial develop- ments and just 100 metres away from the St Michael Foundation School. ERA's clearance of the proposed school on ODZ land contrasts somewhat with its stance on the sanctioning of a small agricul- tural store in the same location in 2023. While ERA had not objected to the sanctioning of the store, relocated due to road-widening works, it had called for the removal of two recently constructed side walls around the farm's entrance ramp. The Planning Authority rejected this re- quest, noting that the walls on each side of the ramp were required for safety reasons and did not detract from the site's rural context. The school proposal is being put forward by Newark School, which plans to relocate from its current premises in Parisio Street, Sliema. As proposed, the development will consist of a four-storey building overlying basement parking. It will include five nurs- ery classes accommodating 93 children, and 26 classes from Kinder 1 to Year 11, each hosting up to 26 students, for a total of 769 students. The educational facility will also feature a multipurpose hall, a library, science and IT labs, a substation, and other ancillary facilities. Objections to school development Moviment Graffitti and the Swieqi Lo- cal Council have jointly objected to the planned construction of a private school along the busy Tal-Balal junction, citing both environmental concerns and the im- pact on traffic flow. Both parties insisted that the approval of St Michael School in 2004 should not serve as a precedent for further ODZ de- velopment, noting that the earlier approval pre-dated the publication of local plans and the introduction of the rural policy regulat- ing ODZ development. The Swieqi Council expressed particu- lar concern about the impact on Swie- qi residents who use Triq l-Ibraġ to exit their locality, noting that the Tal-Balal mi- ni-roundabout is already the scene of "atro- cious traffic jams every single morning, with queues of cars coming out of Madliena and Swieqi towards the roundabout reaching as far as the junction with Triq il-Madliena". The San Ġwann Local Council is also ob- jecting to the development, insisting that the site is unsuitable for a school. The coun- cil highlights that access to the school's un- derground car park from the main road would worsen existing traffic problems. It also expressed concern that schoolchildren would be exposed to pollution from a near- by construction plant. Furthermore, Din l-Art Ħelwa is also objecting, warning that the development would result in a significant loss of agricul- tural land and introduce an imposing struc- ture into an open space. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage has also raised concerns regarding the po- tential impact on the visual perception of a nearby vernacular building and an adjacent country lane. It has requested photomon- tages to be provided in order to assess the proposal more effectively. ERA wants sound barriers In its memo to the Planning Authority, ERA emphasised that the "wider compat- ibility of the proposed use with the sur- rounding industrial uses" should be ad- dressed by the Planning Authority. ERA also proposed the incorporation of noise control measures, including land- scaping and water features "to mask road traffic noise or any other unwanted outdoor noise", and the creation of "sound walls or barriers" around the school perimeter. Re- garding traffic impact, ERA has requested a study showing both current and projected traffic flows. The local plan limits development on agricultural land to structures and uses essential to agriculture. However, the Stra- tegic Plan for the Environment and Devel- opment (SPED) allows for certain devel- opments—such as schools, hospitals, and homes for the elderly—in ODZ areas, but only as a last resort, after urban sites have been thoroughly considered. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt The school is being proposed on 2,628 square metres of agricultural land (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) Renderings of what the potential new school will look like