Allowing a controversial apartment block development in Lija will replicate the “universally-acknowledged flop in planning” of localities like Sliema, the Lija mayor has warned.
Last July, the Planning Authority gave the go-ahead for the development of 27 apartments over four floors, as well as penthouses, in a quiet residential street in Lija despite the protests of residents, the local council and NGOs.
Opponents of the development filed an appeal arguing that it would forever alter the character of the area and strain local infrastructure, cramming up to 1,800 residents – equivalent to 50 per cent of the whole town – into just two new blocks.
A decision by the Appeals Tribunal is expected on Thursday.
The proposed block is in a narrow street characterised by lines of uniform terraced houses and right opposite a designated villa and bungalow area, with no existing buildings higher than two storeys.
Lija mayor Magda Magri Naudi, who has spearheaded the opposition, told the Times of Malta the PA’s approval rested on changes in planning policy introduced last year, which limited developments by height rather than number of floors.
Around the same time, changes in sanitary regulations reduced minimum ceiling heights to 2.6 metres, effectively allowing an extra floor for every four built. These changes followed sweeping amendments to the Local Plan back in 2006, widening the possibility for owners of terraced houses to redevelop their properties into apartment blocks of three or more storeys.
“The Lija Local Council was not consulted about these changes, either in 2006 or in 2015,” Ms Magri Naudi said. “Although there was some form of generic consultations with local councils in 2006, the second draft of the proposals was never open to public scrutiny and consultation, as was promised. As far as local councils and individual residents are concerned, these changes were introduced by stealth. What are local councils for if they are not consulted on such drastic changes that will forever destroy the neighbourhood’s character, and social fabric, which makes this prime area what it is today?
“Are local councils there just to organise waste collection and fixing of pavements? Have we not learnt any lessons from what is universally acknowledged to be a flop in planning in Sliema’s redevelopment? Is Lija to become Sliema revisited?”
Ms Magri Naudi questioned why residents had not been directly consulted on the policy changes, as well as the increase in congestion and devaluing of nearby properties as a result of the development.
“With 70,000 empty dwellings in Malta, such low-quality developments are not required, especially opposite a prized area,” she said.
“The PA should be protecting our neighbourhoods from such a negative imbalance.”
A petition against the development has been signed by more than 1,000 residents and a campaign organised under the slogan ‘Save Our Villages’. Ms Magri Naudi warned that the council was prepared to pursue the issue in court if the planning appeal was turned down.