Lija council objecting to sanctioning of development

The Lija council is protesting against four development permits for terraced houses.

Lija mayor Ian Castaldi Paris said that four sanctioning applications were filed to legalise, among other things, a pool, pump rooms and tanks, all of which were in an outside development zone.

The original outline permit, he said, was for the building to be demolished and the site excavated for the construction of four terraced with underlying garages.

However, the developer went over and above the permit, excavating more than he had been permitted and constructing a swimming pool.

Mepa, Dr Castaldi Paris said, had issued six enforcement notices for the site.

But while the Mepa Planning Directorate was recommending refusal of the request for sanctioning, the DCC board requested the applicant to submit fresh plans.

By requesting fresh plans, the DCC was subtly giving the developer another chance and it was likely that these plans would be accepted.

Dr Castaldi said the DCC was taking these illegal applications very lightly and said that the council had sent an official letter to Mepa chairman Austin Walker requesting the case to be heard by Mepa instead of by the DCC board.

The council, the mayor said, was putting pressure not to allow this to happen. He said he had faith in Mepa but not in the DCC board.