Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543552
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 MARCH 2026 NEWS Swieqi football land is given SWIEQI United Football Club officials were left fuming at government plans to grant land in Pembroke to Valletta FC for new sports facilities. Swieqi officials had been in talks with government for al- most a decade over the transfer of the same land to their club before last week's surprise an- nouncement. "Swieqi UFC had presented a detailed proposal for a sports complex on that same site, only to see their idea being regaled to Valletta FC instead," sources close to the club told MaltaTo- day. Last week, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that government will grant land valued at up to €100 million in Pembroke for the development of sports facilities, with a sig- nificant portion earmarked for Valletta FC. Abela said part of the land would be granted to Swieqi United. MaltaToday understands that Swieqi UFC had first presented a project for the area in 2015 to then Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Chris Agius and sub- sequently to all ministers re- sponsible for sport since then. The club, which was found- ed in 2009, had by the 2015/16 season established a full struc- ture, including men's, wom- en's, nursery and futsal squads. Despite its growth, it operates with limited infrastructure and has only access to a seven-a- side pitch. Renting facilities to accommodate all squads and their academy costs the club around €80,000 a year, accord- ing people close to the club. Given its success, the club em- barked on what it had described as a sports and community pro- ject that would be made sus- tainable through sport tourism commercialisation. The land it identified in Pembroke is with- in the development zone and is scheduled for civic amenities, sport or employment use. The club had also indicated it was open to incorporating local council facilities into the project and allow the primary KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt PA approves Delimara dwelling overlooking Il-Hofra l-Kbira A controversial permit for a dwelling in pristine surroundings at Delimara has been approved by the Planning Commission despite previous objections from the en- vironment watchdog. The application filed by Anton Schembri concerned rural land overlooking the majestic Ħofra l-Kbira cliffs. The site is accessed from Triq Xrobb l-Għaġin. Schembri is a director of the Schembri Barbros construction company. The commission approved the proposal by two votes to one af- ter revised plans significantly reduced the scale of the devel- opment. The permit allows the demolition of what is described as a disused livestock farm and its replacement with a single one storey dwelling and basement. The Environment and Resourc- es Authority (ERA) had objected to the development since the site lies inside a designated Area of Ecological Importance (AEI) and Area of High Landscape Value. The site also lies in an area des- ignated in the local plan as a na- tional park. These protections are intended to safeguard ecological- ly sensitive terrain, coastal land- scapes and rural character from intrusive development. In its for- mal consultation response, the ERA objected outright, warning that introducing a residence and associated domestic uses in such a sensitive location would urban- ise an open rural landscape and risk setting a precedent for similar proposals in protected zones. The authority also warned of visual impacts and loss of undeveloped land. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage likewise raised concerns, noting the absence of any traceable permit for the ex- isting structures and warning that the redevelopment would increase built volume and formal- isation within a protected cultural landscape intended to preserve coastal cliffs and rural scenery. Directorate recommended refusal The Planning Authority's De- velopment Management Directo- rate had recommended refusal on several grounds. Its case officer concluded the proposal conflict- ed with rural policy because it had not been proven that the existing structure was a legally established building or a genuine disused livestock farm qualifying for con- version. Officials noted no structures were visible on site in 1967, while from the submitted 1978 aerial photo, it was difficult to calculate the legally established roofed ar- ea. Moreover, no permit for the structures could be traced. Even if it once functioned as an agricul- tural building, they said evidence was insufficient to show it had ceased operation within the time- frame required by policy. The directorate also objected to the development's scale and impact, warning that earlier plans for a 225sq.m dwelling with basement, pool, decking, carport and ramp would have produced a signifi- cantly larger footprint than the existing structures and increased visual intrusion in the open land- scape. Illegal interventions al- ready present on site, including an extended ramp and vehicular access created after 1978, were also cited as grounds for refusal. Developer's evidence on past farm use Central to the applicant's case was a technical report by an ag- ricultural consultant, which as- sessed the site as a former cat- tle-rearing facility linked to a licensed livestock enterprise. The documentation was presented as evidence that it had functioned as a legitimate agricultural facility. The report states the structures were built in the 1970s as an an- cillary extension to a dairy farm in Żejtun regis- tered under a legally valid per- mit, allowing seasonal grazing on high-nutritional forage and serving as a biosecurity measure after the 1978 foot-and-mouth epidemic. The farm was at that time operated by a livestock own- er Anthony Desira and was in use until 1992. Supporting testimony was also provided by PJ Portelli, director of the Veterinary Regulation Di- rectorate, who confirmed from his recollection as a former state veterinary surgeon that the land had been used as a dairy farm by the same farming family through- out the late 1980s and 1990s. Approval followed major downscaling The commission's decision hinged largely on revised plans submitted late in the process. According to its justification, the proposed building was reduced to 99sq.m to reflect the scale of pre- 1978 structures. Its height was also lowered so as not to exceed the adjacent roadside rubble wall. The pool was removed, apertures narrowed and the design altered to appear more vernacular in character. Members said they took into ac- count declarations from the Vet- erinary Regulation Directorate, affidavits referring to past agri- cultural use and the consultant's historical assessment. They con- cluded that, with amendments and conditions, the development could be permitted. The architect was instructed to submit further revised draw- ings showing the footprint of an underground reservoir, reduce façade openings and remove an illegal passageway. While the development has been substantially downsized, the permit establishes a residential commitment, possibly opening the way for future extensions, apart from increasing its com- mercial value. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt The disused cow farm lies in pristine surroundings overlooking the Il-Hofra l-Kbira