A decision to approve permits for four "massive" villas in an outside development zone in Kalkara was "completely unacceptable" and local residents were right to appeal the decision, environmental NGO Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said this morning. 

The development in the Kalkara hamlet of Santu Rokku was approved by the Planning Authority last month in spite of the case officer's recommendation to refuse the application, as it was in contravention of a number of planning policies. 

FAA said the area is designated as a rural area under current policies which imposed a presumption against development in such areas.

“It is completely unacceptable to have decisions of the sort where all policies are completely disregarded and not even referred to. If this decision is confirmed we will insist on an audit of the way certain decision-makers are acting, prejudicing the rights of citizens and future generations in the most obscure way," the organisation said.