The proposed Chiswick school learning pods in Pembroke.

Pembroke developed as a result of British Military needs in Malta and evolved as a garrison town in the 19th and 20th centuries. The urban configuration of Pembroke today, characterised by heritage buildings and residential areas is not yet compromised by aggressive development.

Yet the locality is under siege as a result of recently proposed projects which shall lead to an increase in the urban density and detract from the quality of open spaces, compromising the well-being and quality of life of its inhabitants.

Pembroke includes areas of conservation value with scheduling status scattered throughout the locality including buildings of historical and architectural importance and sites of natural ecological and geomorphological value.

Pembroke’s karst is considered as an area of scientific importance due to its rich biodiversity with endemic species including rare orchids.

Any proposed development in the locality should not jeopardise directly or indirectly, in the short  or long term, the conservation value of these sites, particularly since the locality does not have a defined urban conservation area that contributes to its identity as is the case of other localities with a historic village core.

Recent piecemeal proposals for development in the locality, present an unprecedented threat to the quality of spaces in Pembroke

Recent piecemeal proposals for development in the locality, present an unprecedented threat to the quality of spaces in Pembroke. A comprehensive structured appraisal of these proposals is necessary to promote the sustainable development of the locality.

The impact of the proposed school on public garigue, the proposed five- and six-storey high apartment blocks in an otherwise uncommitted area so far and the major projects at the fringe of the locality including Paceville and White Rocks, point towards a massive transformation of Pembroke.

The site proposed for the new Chiswick school is immediately adjacent to the Natura 2000 area, serving as part of a broader ecological system and an important buffer zone to the Natura 2000 site.

The proposed development shall lead to fragmentation of the ecological system. It shall compromise the state of the garigue and the karst landforms during the construction phase and even once completed.

One cannot ignore the Management Plan of the Pembroke Natura 2000 site, which identifies over-trampling and encroachment as the main threat to the site.

Pembroke hosts a large number of public and private schools and other educational institutions which do not cater only for the children of the surrounding settlements but have a more extensive catchment area. Therefore significant traffic is generated throughout the day and in particular during the peak morning hours and the afternoon.

In view of this, a traffic impact assessment for the proposed school should include traffic network modelling for a comprehensive strategic traffic plan. The traffic impact of the proposed school project also needs to be seen in the context of other major proposals including the tall buildings projected for the ITS (Institute for Tourism Studies) site, other major development in Paceville and the proposed road linking St Andrews Road through Triq il-Mediterran in Pembroke, to Paceville.

Therefore the proposed Chiswick school on a large stretch of public garigue is one significant project with a large impact which needs to be seen in the context of the cumulative effect of other small-scale development proposals, such as the proposed conversion of terraced houses to five- and six-storey apartment blocks, triggering further urban sprawl.

This is also to be considered in the context of the geographical location of Pembroke, just at the fringe of the Harbour region, so close to the high urban density areas of St Julian’s and Paceville.

Pembroke is mainly characterised by two-storey blocks, not yet compromised with the intense five- and six-storey high apartment buildings being proposed. However, if the vision for Pembroke in the short term is to accommodate the workers of the projected new neighbouring economic activities by providing low-quality small housing units for rental purposes, Pembroke risks a transformation into a locality with increased urban density and lower quality housing which would also have a social impact.

This shall lead to a dramatic reduction in the quality of the spaces, further traffic generation and excessive loads on the infrastructure. In the long term such aggressive development would necessitate regeneration plans for the locality.

If however, in the long term, the vision for Pembroke is sustainable development, based on the retention and promotion of quality housing and open spaces, safeguarded for everyone to enjoy, the community will benefit not only in terms of the quality of life and well-being but also with regards property value.

Pembroke, with its various facets, presents a challenge to all stakeholders: residents, NGOs, entrepreneurs and planners. We have to learn to safeguard a lifestyle that respects the surrounding geophysical, ecological and historical environments in order to avoid land use conflicts that otherwise would undermine our identity as a locality.

Glorianne Borg Axisa is subject coordinator for geography at the Junior College and lectures geography education at the University of Malta.