Mepa defends Qala permit

The Planning Authority insisted this afternoon that a permit it had granted for a redevelopment on the Qala promenade was in line with its policies.

The development is in property known as Ta' Xerri il-Bukkett.

Mepa said it was not true that the area was an Outside Development Zone. This, it said, was a Category 1 Settlement, for which there were specific policies which were different from those for ODZs. The policies for this site were fully respected.

The authority said the new development could not be higher than two storeys from road level and terracing at the back and the sides had to follow ridge edge policies.

The authority said the development application was approved at reconsideration stage as several changes were made from the original proposal to address negative points.

The project was discussed several times in public meetings and neighbours had the opportunity to make their arguments.