The Planning Authority has received a new application to develop a 400-year-old garden at the crossroads of the Three Villages in a fresh attempt to forge ahead with a project that has already been refused

The refusal came following a storm of objections to the request to demolish the large garden and the adjacent baroque residence on the corner of Triq Annibale Preca in Lija and Triq Sant’Antnin in Balzan. 

The original proposal would have seen the excavation of the 17th-century garden measuring around 920 square metres, including protected citrus trees and garden rubble walls, to create eight basement garages and six two-storey townhouses with swimming pools.

All of the proposed dwellings are four-bedroom units, having a gross floor area exceeding 200 square metres. Alterations to the existing townhouse, which includes baroque-period architectural features, were also mentioned in the application.

On appealing the decision not to grant permission, the developer submitted fresh plans that re-duced the number of proposed two-storey townhouses to three. 

However, the garden itself will still be taken over, particularly with swimming pools. 

According to industry sources, the Planning Authority cannot consider the fresh plans during the appeal, which is still pending, so the developer filed a separate application with the new plans. 

According to the new plan, there will also be an underlying four-car garage. 

The existing baroque house will also be split up into a number of individual residences. 

The development is both intensive and extensive

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage had vehemently opposed the project, saying that the site was an established garden forming part of a property “of evident architectural and historical value”.

Moreover, it said the property was located within the urban conservation area and was in the vicinity of San Anton Palace, which was a scheduled property.

World War II shelters were also recorded in the vicinity of the proposed works, it added.

“The Superintendence notes that the proposed development is both intensive and extensive, with an undeniable and negative impact both on the property and on the streetscapes in two streets within the urban conservation area,” it added.

The Lija local council had also objected to the destruction of the 400-year-old garden at the crossroads of the Three Villages.

The council’s was one of 150 objections submitted to the PA, many citing the loss of the historic garden, the increase in traffic and the intensification of development in an urban conservation area, which objectors say will also set a precedent.

Those who objected to the first application will now need to submit a fresh objection to the new plans.

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