Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543837
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 MARCH 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The proposal, submitted by Jo- hann Camilleri's Active Group under application PA/05280/21, foresees the development of a standalone crematorium on a 7,800-square-metre agricultural field in the Tal-Ħorr area of Paola, just outside the development zone in close vicinity to the Addolorata cemetery. New facility can cater for 30% of funerals Initial projections cited by the case officer suggest the facility would begin by handling around four cremations per week, equiv- alent to roughly 5 % of funerals in Malta. The operator estimates this could eventually rise to around 25 cremations weekly, potentially ac- counting for about 30 % of funer- als within a decade. In 2024, 145 Maltese chose to be cremated overseas, representing about 3.5 % of all deaths that year. In the same year, Planning Minis- ter Clint Camilleri stated that esti- mated demand for cremation fa- cilities could be between 500 and 1,000 requests annually — rough- ly 10–20% of the approximately 5,000 deaths per year. This suggests that the proposed facility would be able to cater to most cremations in Malta, leav- ing little scope for other facilities to be built in additional locations. Pending applications for crema- tion facilities include one being proposed next to the historic Ta' Brija Cemetery on the outskirts of Siġġiewi. In 2023, the Planning Authority had shot down Moviment Graffit- ti's proposal to limit cremation fa- cilities to one state owned one. In- stead, the Planning Authority said it was only establishing technical criteria on where crematoria can be built and would not fix a limit of one facility. Limited footprint According to the case officer's report, the project has been de- signed to minimise its visual and environmental impact despite occupying a relatively large rural site. The proposed building would have a footprint of just under 500 square metres and a maximum height of 7.7 metres. The complex would be spread across three levels. The ground floor would function as the public area of the crematorium, contain- ing reception facilities, meeting rooms, a multipurpose hall and a showroom. This level would also house the operational core of the facility, including the cremation chamber and technical equip- ment. A first basement level would host clinical and preparation are- as such as a mortuary, cold room and columbarium's, along with fa- cilities related to funeral services. A second basement level would accommodate infrastructure and logistics, including 11 car parking spaces, motorcycle parking and water reservoirs. Policy basis The case officer argues that the proposal complies with the policy criteria for the siting of standalone crematoria. Two factors were highlighted in the report: the site lies with- in one kilometre of the principal urban area, ensuring accessibility to populated centres, and it is lo- cated only around 26 metres from the Santa Maria Addolorata Cem- etery. Although the site consists of agricultural land, the Agriculture Advisory Committee eventually cleared the project after initially objecting to the loss of agricul- tural land. The committee ac- knowledged the national interest of cremation infrastructure and noted that such facilities are of- ten located in rural areas because of the buffer distances required from residential zones. An agron- omist's report also concluded that the land has low agricultural val- ue, further supporting the case for development. Key studies postponed A notable aspect of the recom- mendation is that several crucial technical studies have not yet been submitted. Because the application seeks outline permission, the case of- ficer argues that certain assess- ments — including an emission dispersion model and an archae- ological evaluation — should be treated as "reserved matters" to be presented at the full development application stage. The report states that this ap- proach allows the developer to establish whether the project is acceptable in principle before in- vesting in costly technical model- ling. Nonetheless, construction could not begin even if the outline per- mit is granted. The project would still require a full development application incorporating the outstanding studies and detailed design. Authorities such as the Envi- ronment and Resources Author- ity and the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage have already indicated that these assessments must form part of the final permit application. Still, the sequencing raises ques- tions among critics about why key information on potential emis- sions and heritage impacts would only be evaluated after the project receives approval in principle. Local opposition The proposal has drawn opposi- tion from the Paola Local Council and the Tarxien Local Council. The councils have raised concerns about possible toxic emissions, in- creased traffic in the area and the proximity of the development to an archaeologically sensitive zone. The site itself has a complicated planning history. A previous out- line application for a crematori- um on the same land was refused in 2018. However, the case officer's re- port notes that the Design Advi- sory Committee and the Super- intendence of Cultural Heritage have not objected to the develop- ment in principle, provided the building remains shifted toward the southern portion of the site to safeguard views of the Grade 1 scheduled Addolorata Cemetery. The Environmental Health Di- rectorate has also raised no objec- tion. The final decision now rests with the Planning Authority board, which will determine later this month whether the project should receive approval in princi- ple — a step that could pave the way for Malta's first crematorium, but still leave key environmen- tal and heritage questions to be settled in a subsequent planning stage. The proposal foresees development of standalone crematorium on 7,800-square-metre field Above is a birdseye view of the proposed area