A Ħal Far field larger than two football pitches could soon be turned into additional factory space at the locality’s industrial estate if new plans are approved by the planning authority.

The Malta Environment and Planning Au-thority yesterday issued a public consultation document on proposed “partial” amendments to the South Malta Local Plan.

The alterations would see the 18,800 square metre field added to the Ħal Far Malta Industrial Parks estate.

The land, currently designated as a recreational area, is described in the consultation document as being “partly abandoned land and partly a wide tarmacked area, occasionally used for open storage”.

The document claims the transformation of the land, beside the popular Ħal Far quarter-mile race track, is “necessary to take into account current needs for industrial land”.

It adds that the industrial zone it is suggested to form part of had been designated as one of the government’s new “Enterprise Hubs” in last year’s review of the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development, SPED.

Mepa said the suggestion to change the land was put to the public after consultation with the government last year. A preliminary public consultation was also held last October. The authority is not only proposing adding the field to the neighbouring industrial area but is also suggesting the realignment of Ħal Far Road to allow vehicular access to the site, as well as minor alterations to other nearby roads.

The partial revision is also proposing the introduction of around 26,000sqm of landscaping at the Ħal Far industrial estate to improve the area.

The public consultation document can be downloaded from the Mepa website, www.mepa.org.mt, and the consultation period closes on February 17. Suggestions and objections can be sent to the Director of Planning at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, P.O. Box 200, Marsa MRS1000, or to the email address smlp@mepa.org.mt.