The draft policy framework for fuel stations has been re-issued by the Planning Authority for public consultation.

The Authority in a statement said that the draft policy is being re-issued after it took into consideration the numerous submissions it received from interested stakeholders and the public during the last public consultation period earlier this year.

The amended draft includes a number of changes which will make it more restrictive for new fuel stations to be granted planning permission, the PA said.

It explained that one of the key amendments is that it will become compulsory that for an existing fuel station to be granted planning permission to be relocated it needs to still be in operation at the time that the development application is submitted to the Planning Authority.

This will therefore mean that out-of-operation fuel stations will not be allowed to get relocated, the Authority said.

Additionally, the Authority said that is also making it a pre-requisite that an existing fuel station must be “creating negative issues of amenity, safety and transport within the built environment for it to get relocated.”

In this document the Authority makes it clear that this policy framework will also be applicable to those fuel station applications which were submitted prior to the coming into force of this policy and have not yet been determined.

The Authority pointed out that the new amendments make it more restrictive on where relocated fuel stations may be sited.

The Authority is specifying that for an ODZ site to be considered it must already be covered by a valid development permit or the site is already committed by development carried out before 1967.

Additionally, the committed development must not be related to agriculture and/or animal husbandry. The Authority said that such sites will only be considered if a wider environmental benefit is achieved and the development is compatible with the context of the area.

“Should a relocated fuel station be permitted in an ODZ area, it may not exceed the footprint of the committed area or 1000sq.m, whichever is the smaller,” it said.

No footprint limit will apply if the relocated fuel station is within the development boundary subject to neighbourhood safety and compatibility, said the Authority. “The revised draft policy also excludes any sites located within 15m from the shoreline inwards of the rural coast as designated by the SPED.”

The Planning Authority is inviting all interested parties to send in their submissions related to the proposed policy framework.

Representations are to be made in writing and sent to postal address: Planning Authority, Director of Planning, St Francis Ravelin, Floriana FRN1234 or through email: FSSP_review@pa.org.mt

The latest revised changes to the Fuel Stations Policy may be viewed by clicking here.

Submissions must reach the Authority by not later than the 1st of November 2019.

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