Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar is highlighting what it describes as ”yet another application for an abusive building submitted by the usual suspects, which seems to have gone under the radar.”

The application is for a property in Triq Sant’ Antnin, Ghajnsielem and requests permit for the ”internal demolition of existing house, retaining existing façade. To excavate site, construct 13 garages and 2 car spaces in basement level. Proposed construction of house and 11 apartments. The applicant is Mark Grech and Architect Perit Angelo Portelli.”

FAA in a statement said that as can be seen in the photographs this prime site faces Mgarr harbour, ”however the developer proposes to maximise the site with a project of a depth of 86.3m from the road, almost three times the permissible depth, in violation of SPED P27 re Depth of Built Footprint: the depth of the built footprint as measured from the official building alignment will not be allowed to exceed 30 metres.”FAA maintained that in view of the the sensitive nature of the Area of High Landscape Protection that this site occupies, streetscape elevations need to be accompanied by photo-montages from different long-range views, given strong concerns that the proposed building would violate “SPED TO8.7: To safeguard and enhance biodiversity, cultural heritage, geology and geomorphology by Controlling activities which might have an impact on areas, buildings, structures, sites, spaces and species.”

FAA also noted that the section from the Northern aspect is missing.

As a result of all this, it said that the current proposal violates SPED

Thematic Objective 8: To safeguard and enhance biodiversity, cultural heritage, geology and geomorphology

Urban Objective 2: To improve the townscape and environment in historic cores and their setting with a presumption against demolition of property worthy of conservation

Urban Objective 3: To identify, protect and enhance the character and amenity of distinct urban areas

FAA questioned why, when many architects are having their applications stalled due to insignificant lacunae, this developer has been exempted from the statutory obligation to submit streetscape elevations (including buildings on either side).

”While we have always seen developers submitting applications that exceed what is permissible, we maintain that applying for a project that exceeds the depth of development by 300% is emblematic of the no-holds-barred impunity that the Planning Authority and its political masters are encouraging by issuing abusive permits that are ruining Malta and, especially, Gozo,” stated FAA.

FAA urged members of the public to object to PA 08429/21 ”in order to protect Mgarr Harbour’s surroundings, an iconic landscape that belongs to us all!”

Photos: FAA

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