MEPA auditor asked to review Mistra Village application

Din l-Art Helwa, the environment NGO, has requested MEPA Auditor Joseph Falzon to review a report drawn up by the MEPA Planning Directorate following an application for redevelopment of the ‘Mistra Village’ site.

“In particular, the Auditor was requested to review how it was concluded that this application should be recommended for approval, when the proposed building heights go against existing policies in the Local Plan,” the NGO said.

The developer is proposing to build around 1,000 new apartments in four massive blocks with stepped ‘boomerang’ shapes, ranging from six to 16 storeys and reaching up to 55m in height. The North West Local Plan states that the maximum building height that can be considered on this site, through the application of the Floor Area Ratio, is eight storeys, or at most only “slight departures” from this height.

“In no way can 16 storeys be viewed as a “slight departure” from eight storeys, “ Din L-Art Helwa said.

“The Environmental Impact Assessment conducted for PA 05538/04 clearly shows that the proposed building heights will have a major negative visual impact on the surrounding landscape.

“Furthermore, the draft Floor Area Ratio policy of 2006 states that elevated ground and ridges are deemed inappropriate for tall buildings as they would dominate the whole landscape when viewed from low-lying ground, and would have a deleterious impact on the skyline on a national scale,” said Din l-Art Helwa.

Picture: The old Mistra Village being demolished to make way for apartment blocks.