The Planning Authority has rejected an application for the construction of a sprawling villa, complete with swimming pool and deck, in an outside development zone area overlooking Wied il-Kbir, Swieqi.
Swieqi local council and environmental NGOs had all campaigned against the development, raising serious concerns over the take-up of land in the aesthetically and scientifically important valley system.
The application, which was turned down unanimously by the PA board earlier today in line with the case officer’s recommendation, would have expanded a small run-down farmhouse into a residence nearly four times the size, as well as the building of a swimming pool, reservoir and cesspit.
The proposed opening of a new vehicle access would also have affected an area currently occupied by mature olive trees.
Wied il-Kbir and the adjoining Wied Għomor are scheduled as Areas of Ecological Importance and Sites of Scientific Importance, and both the National Heritage Advisory Committee and the Environment and Resources Authority objected to the proposed development.
The ERA flagged up concerns over the intensification of development and adverse impacts on the character of the valley. The swimming pool was also considered a chemical risk to the watercourse, potentially affecting natural vegetation and agricultural land further down the valley.
A request by the project architect for the hearing to be deferred was rejected by the board. The architect had hoped to include revised plans submitted just a few days ago, which were not deemed admissible by the PA board.
A joint statement by eNGOs ahead of today’s hearing had warned that granting the permit would open the gates to many other developments and spell the ruination of yet another of Malta’s valleys.
“ODZ areas are being attacked through various loopholes or through the Rural Policy Guidelines which is allowing even rural structures to be
developed into villas with complimenting pools, on land which should not even be developed and so should have a lower economic value because of its limited use,” the organisations said.
In May, the PA turned down an application for an old people's home in a disused quarry in Wied Għomor. Swieqi mayor Noel Muscat told the Times of Malta today the council was being “inundated” in new development applications and was struggling to cope.