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.
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Pierre Mizzi
Apr 2nd 2008, 18:43
I think these NGOs are going too far!! Not all developments are just bad!!
With a project of this magnitude there, the entire locality is bound to benefit; not to mention the whole country since such developments potentially attract millions of Euros in foreign investment.
Can you imagine St. Julians without Portomaso today? or San Gorg without Bay Street? or all the projects done there by the Eden Group?
What would you rather have? The whole Mistra Village area broken up into little plots and sold off to hundreds of buyers to be developed into apartments and maisonettes over the next 20 or 30 years?...or a project of this sort to elevate the whole district, built and completed within maybe 4-5 years?...with one developer to control rather than a hundred.
We're living in 2008 (at least some of us are). This is private land that is already disturbed, it's at the top of a hill and there's absolutely nothing wrong with building higher rise here!! If not here, where?
The problem as I see it is that the NGOs are simply complaining for the sake of making their voices heard some times.
YES for stopping illegal developments and development outside development zones!! But hey, give us a break. We cannot just keep going overboard with this attitude that all development has to be stopped for some reason or other.
Michael Ellul
Apr 2nd 2008, 15:39
Don't you remember busietta gardens. Remember the minister saying if block of apartments is viewed from the side is of two storeys. I never saw a two storey building with my eyes up to date i try but canot. History is repeating itself also in Mistra who knows from which angle Dr Gonzi will see this building? Was it he who re appointed Mepa DCC board a week before elections? Is it he now holding responsibility of Mepa? Could it be we will see the promised reform a few months before another election? Well he did promise the reform never said how many permits will be issued with current mepa policies before the change actually occurs but lets face it everyone knew about Mepa doings and we approved them in last election didn't we so why complain?