Application for Għargħur development will not be taken in isolation – FAA

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) and Għargħur residents welcome the Planning Commission’s conclusion that a decision on the building of flats next to the parish church should not be taken in isolation, given that applications for two other adjoining blocks are still being processed. These blocks are to rise six floors and would form a bastion of concrete, blocking the view of nearby Għargħur Parish Church, and ruining the character of Għargħur, which is one of Malta’s better-preserved villages, FAA said.

The Planning Commission (PC) concluded that “the visual appearance of the proposal does not adequately respond to the context of the surrounding locality, particularly with regard to volume in relation and proximity of UCA zoning... PC also noted that this development might have a bearing decision on adjacent applications currently being considered at directorate level, and PC is therefore suspending the current deliberation of this application so that the case can be decided along these other applications.”

FAA condemned developers’ and architects’ attitude that they have an automatic right to build up to the excessive heights of the DC15 Annexe 2 regulations, which is a height limitation, not a divine right. The mechanism of depicting the ‘potential heights’ of adjoining houses as if they were already built up is another misleading gimmick which is so damaging to our skylines. Those involved in the development sector need to adopt the doctors’ oath of “First do no harm”. FAA called on the Planning Authority to apply this holistic view to every case it deals with.