Plans to develop an old chicken farm in the Bidnija countryside into a large storage facility have incensed residents, who fear the development could lead to a major industrial operation in the ODZ area.

The outline application submitted by U-Store seeks to transform the chicken farm, which has been disused since 2011, into a “storage and distribution centre” with 18 large garages at ground and basement level.

The site in question has an area of 5,920 square metres and is surrounded by sparse villas and bungalows in a quiet rural area outside development boundaries. Representations on the application are open until March 17.

The site has an area of 5,920 square metres in a quiet rural area outside development boundaries.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) is objecting to the application, which it said would further formalise the countryside and open the door to the introduction of commercial activities in the area.

In its objection, the authority said there was “no adequate justification” for the project, which could instead be sited in areas clearly identified for industrial use, and that the unjustified development would come “at the expense of the uses essential to the needs of agriculture”.

“Despite the farm not currently being in use, such a state of abandon does not automatically justify the development of such a project in a zone designated as Outside Development Zone,” the ERA said.

Residents who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta echoed the fear that the application would lead to the site being used for general industrial purposes, creating a de facto ‘industrial zone’ in the pristine area, with devastating effects on the environment.

Having already got used to the odours emanating from the old farm, residents expressed alarm over the noise pollution which would be caused by heavy industrial activity right on their doorstep.

Despite the farm not currently being in use, such a state of abandon does not automatically justify the development of such a project

According to residents, a permit application notice put up on site by the Planning Authority was instantly removed, and no notification was posted to neighbouring homes as required by law, raising further questions. No notice was visible at the site yesterday.

According to the Rural Policy Design Guidelines approved in 2014, ODZ livestock farms can be redeveloped if they have been disused for at least 10 years and are creating a negative environmental impact, although the policy applies only to dwellings of 200 square metres or less.

The policy also states that the replacement building should be “of high quality design and shall fully respect the wider context in which it is located”.