Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/826032
maltatoday, FRIDAY, 19 MAY 2017 JAMES DEBONO AN application for the con- struction of four dwellings and underlying garages in a hamlet in Triq Santu Rokku in Kalkara outside develop- ment zones was approved yesterday, despite four prior refusals by the Planning Au- thority for development on the same 1,400 square metre site. The area is in the vicinity of the Wied Rinella valley and forms part of an Area of Eco- logical Importance, enjoying Level 4 protection – a level of protection accorded to buffer zones to areas enjoy- ing a higher level of protec- tion. The local plan includes a "presumption against new development" in this rural hamlet. The application, presented by auto dealer Norbert Bel- lia who owns the land in question, foresees develop- ment of four new dwellings constructed over a ground f loor level and one overlying storey on what is presently agricultural land which also includes a number of trees. The Planning Authority has already refused an appli- cation for the construction of two residences and un- derlying garages presented by Bellia on the same site in February 2015. The proposal is located in the Santu Rokku hamlet, which according to the PA's Planning Directorate is one of the "few remaining rela- tively unspoilt traditional agricultural communities". When refusing the previous application the case officer insisted that only the reha- bilitation and upgrading of existing buildings could be allowed in this hamlet. Architect Robert Musume- ci, who represented Bellia in both the current and in a previous application, argued that the proposal should be considered in view of com- mitments on adjacent sites and in view that the devel- opment is being proposed in an "infill site" between two older dwellings, thus filling the area between two blank party walls. The site in question lies be- tween two dwellings front- ing Triq Santu Rokku but the proposed development also extends into agricultural land, which goes deeper into the countryside than any of the existing buildings. The same application had been refused in December 2012 but was re-assessed following the approval of the new rural design guidelines. But the case officer argued that the only kind of develop- ment, which can be proposed in this area, is a single farm- house for an arable farmer. Two separate applications to construct two terraced houses presented by other applicants were also refused in 2010. According to the Environ- ment and Resources Au- thority the development will disrupt the rural setting and adversely affect the ecologi- cal importance of the rele- vant site and the surrounding Area of Ecological Impor- tance/Site of Scientific Im- portance. "Moreover, the proposed development would result in additional urban sprawl be- yond the current extent of the built-up area and would also create a strong impact on the visual amenity of this particular hamlet, which would be highly visible from surroundings areas. In addi- tion, the proposal would also result in the loss of undevel- oped land and site formalisa- tion and the uprooting of ex- isting mature trees". The four dwellings will occupy a 647 sq.m footprint. News PA issues permit for four ODZ villas CONTESTING DISTRICT 9 GHARGHUR, MSIDA, SWATAR, SAN GWANN KAPPARA, SWIEQI, MADLIENA, TA' XBIEX . DISTRICT 10 GZIRA, NAXXAR (PART OF), BAHAR IC-CAGHAQ PEMBROKE, ST.JULIAN'S, PACEVILLE, SLIEMA . . . The PA has approved four villas in Kalkara which had been recommended for refusal by both ERA and the Planning Directorate The development will take place in 'one of the "few remaining relatively unspoilt traditional agricultural communities'