The Planning Board has approved a development application for the construction of a new residential block which is in close proximity to the Grade 1 Ta’ Kola windmill in Xaghra, Gozo.

The approval follows the submission of revised drawings which the Board saying it was “satisfied that the applicant addressed the concerns it had pointed out at the last hearing in May.”

The Planning Board had at that time expressed that although the proposed building was “well below the maximum height limitation for the area,” it requested the applicant to “further reduce the building height to safeguard the visual integrity of the windmill.”

The Board said that it had vigilantly also asked the applicant to “recede the upper floor to neutralise the creation of blank party walls and slightly amend the design of the façade to make it more homogeneous with the existing streetscape and properties in the surrounding piazza area.”

According to the PA, “the final revised drawings show the overall residential block has been reduced and will not exceed 12.47 metres while a setback has been introduced at the upper level.”

It also said that “the ground floor and first floor levels have been redesigned to read as one floor with the overall facade design reading as two floors rather than three floors. Some traditional elements have been introduced to replicate characteristics of the existing streetscape.”

The PA stated that the approved residential block which falls outside the urban conservation area (UCA) of Xaghra will include two ground-floor garages, an overlying maisonette and six apartments at first, second and third-floor levels.

Photos PA: Show original and revised drawings

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