Environmental groups have objected to a developer’s request to extend the Żabbar development boundary, potentially clearing agricultural land the size of two football pitches for development. 

An application currently being assessed by the Planning Authority seeks to change the zoning of a massive 14,000 square metres of land off Labour Avenue, which is currently outside the development zone. 

Residents say the land is actively worked for agricultural produce, with strawberries currently being harvested, as well as being designated as a strategic open gap and agricultural area. 

If successful, the application would clear the way for the land to be subjected to a full development application further down the line in much the same way the government’s 2006 rationalisation exercise opened up large amounts of ODZ land for development.

However, the PA has not shown itself amenable to such requests from private developers, and two applications for the same changes in Għasri and Xlendi were unanimously rejected by the executive council last March. 

In an objection to the Żabbar proposal, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar argued that planning policy specifically ruled out such modifications to the development zone, and pointed to the recent rejection of the two similar Gozo applications. 

Residents say the land is actively worked for agricultural produce

“Such a request seeks to increase the development zone boundaries through fragmented applications compromising the integrity and overall protection offered to the rural area through the existing planning framework,” the NGO said. 

It argued that the application could “under no circumstances be deemed as holistic or sustainable planning” and warned of the detrimental effect “on our environment and on the very integrity of our planning system”, calling for the PA to reject it outright.

The group Futur Ambjent Wieħed argued that the “chaotic piecemeal development of  ODZ” would have a devastating impact on the environment and show the “total futility of the planning system”. 

The Żabbar local council has also indicated its intention to object to the proposal.

The application was presented by Jodie Camilleri on behalf of CA&S Limited and is open  for public consultation until May 29.

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