Żurrieq’s St Catherine’s fireworks factory will be upgraded after getting the go-ahead from the planning authority.

The factory was granted a development permit, which includes a list of amendments that will put the building in line with current safety regulations.

The case officer said the application originally raised concern since the submitted plans referred to an old permit that was not traced during the planning process.

However, the factory was covered by a police licence and in 2008 an enforcement notice was issued on site for an extension to an existing factory. This implied that the use of the site to create fireworks had “long been established”.

The main issues related to the permit concerned safety and the plans were revised to comply with the requirements of the civil protection and the explosives committee.

The application requested the construction of a colour pressing area, workshops and a locker room and two cesspits. A steel gate was reduced to a height of 1.2 metres and cladded with timber panels. It also wanted to sanction rooms such as the mixing stores and kitchen.

The factory is located around 250 metres outside Żurrieq, limits of Bubaqra, in Wied Ħareb surrounded by fields.

The case officer said upgrading of an already existing fireworks factory “is more favourably considered” than the construction of a new one, especially since the site was not scheduled and was more than 200 metres away, as required by law, from the nearest development scheme boundary.

Both the explosives committee and civil protection said they did not object to the application but the plans were amended – such as keeping a safety distance between buildings.