Attard Council has expressed concerns about plans for residential development between the old railway embankment and the historic aqueduct in the locality.

It also criticised the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage for not objecting to the plans, when the superintendence had protested against plans for smaller development on the same site in 2010. Those plans had been refused a permit because of those objections. 

The new plans are for the building of four houses and a large swimming pool.  

The council said the development application had been made while it is awaiting a reaction from the relevant authorities to its application for EU funds for the restoration of the embankment.

In 2010, the superintendence had objected to plans for the building of two houses in the same area, saying they would have been too close to the aqueduct. A report had warned of the danger of excavating close to the aqueduct and also pointed out that remains of the Classic Era including graves, had been found there.

"Once there was an objection in 2010, why is the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage not finding any problems with the new development which is twice as large as the proposed in 2010?" the council asked. 

In 2003 Attard Council has asked the Planning Authority to schedule the only surviving stretch of the old railway embankment in the locality.

Built around 1882, this masonry structure formed part of the railway line connecting Valletta with Mtarfa.

Stretching almost 400 metres, the embankment was the highest of its kind along the system linking San Antonio Station with Attard Station. It also included a metal bridge (now gone) over Birkirkara Road as well as two small viaducts allowing passage of farmers between their fields.

The Malta Railway opened for business in 1883 and ceased operation in 1931.