The board of the planning authority this afternoon unanimously approved a permit for the building of a concrete brick factory in a disused Siġġiewi quarry.

Case officer Karl Scerri explained that the original request dated back to 2003 and had appeared before the previous board of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The previous board asked the directorate to process the application but requested that the rest of the quarry had to be rehabilitated. New plans were submitted and the rehabilitation was carried out with part of it transformed into an orchard.

The main objection was from the Malta Resources Authority because of the water table but it changed its recommendation to one of approval after the site of the factory was relocated and a number of conditions were imposed.

The project was exempt from an environment impact report and the environment directorate imposed a number of detailed recommendations.

Architect Charles Buhagiar said there were tarmac and batching plants nearby so the area was already committed to industrial use. In fact, it was earmarked for small and medium enterprises.

Another concern was the proximity of the plant to Ta’ Kandja reservoir and to address this concern, the equipment will be sealed off by concrete slabs, to prevent any possible leakages, according to Mr Buhagiar.