Seven swimming pools with decking and soft landscaping proposed to be developed on agricultural land in a pristine ODZ area of Sannat, over an area of approximately 1,700m2, was thrown out by the MEPA Board, leaving the applicant with planning permission which restricted the project for 25 apartments to within the development boundaries.

The Board was discussing in public, a development application on a site area of approximately 3,422m², half of which was outside the development boundaries and which site is accessible from two alleys off Triq il-Kbira in Sannat, Gozo.

The approved development is within a residential zone area and faces the Sannat Urban Conservation Area.

The Board cited that although the 2014 Rural and Design Policy permitted swimming pools outside the development boundaries, this should only be restricted to land that is already disturbed or land already covered by a planning permit.

The Board expressed its disapproval that swimming pools and soft landscaping should become an "automatic" concession in ODZ.

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