Iklin local council and 120 residents are objecting to plans for the building of four villas in place of a dilapidated farmhouse outside the development zone.
Residents have signed a petition urging the Planning Authority to reject the proposal, which would demolish the existing farmhouse and build four detached dwellings, dramatically increasing the built footprint.
The ODZ site is part of a designated strategic open gap, where the local plan states that no urban development will be allowed except for essential, small-scale, utility infrastructure.
Such sites, which are ODZ and intended to act as buffers between areas of urbanised townscape, are designated in the local plan for developments to maintain and enhance attractive landscapes, promote nature conservation and agricultural land use, and improve visitor access to the countryside.
Nevertheless, the PA recently approved the major development of a 234-bed residence for the elderly on a 4,748 square metre site in the Naxxar open gap, just up the road from the one in Iklin.
In its objections to the PA, the local council is arguing that the project fails to respect the priorities for open gap development and also the policy on new ODZ dwellings in the 2014 Rural Policy and Design Guidance.
This policy allows only for a single residential development, which must be of high-quality rural design (the council argues that the proposal is more urban in nature) or more if existing buildings are being rehabilitated rather than redeveloped.
“To allow development of this site as proposed, where it is immediately on the edge of the Iklin development zone, will create an undesirable precedent for further development of this nature in ODZ areas,” the local council added.
“This would increasingly threaten the strategic open space gap in this location, and it is likely to eventually result in the coalescence of the two urban areas in Iklin.”
Apart from the 120-person petition, put together by the council, individual residents have also submitted their own objections.
“[This is] the only remaining green area on this side of Iklin,” one wrote.
“Please let us all enjoy some fresh air.”
The period for representations on the proposed development is open until August 28.
The Environment and Re-sources Authority (ERA) and other statutory consultees have not yet given their recommendations on the project, which is still being assessed.