Massive snail farm application in Naxxar recommended for refusal

A Planning Application for a snail farm in Naxxar, which is expected to go before the Planning Authority Board later this month, has been recommended for refusal by the case officer.

The application is seeking consent for the installation of greenhouses for snail farming, as well as the levelling of part of the site, demolition and reinstatement of internal rubble walls, relocation of existing trees within same site, the construction of agricultural store with PV panels above, a meter room and water tanks, the case officer’s report reads.

The proposed site, located outside the development zone, comprises of agricultural land within an old quarry visible on the 1968 survey sheet, in the limits of Naxxar. The total site area is around 10,000 square metres, having access directly from Triq tal-Balal. It is located opposite the Naxxar Development Zone and surrounded by other old quarries (which nowadays are being used as agricultural land), and an elderly/nursing home.

The Environment and Resources Authority and the Agricultural Advisory Committee had not found an objection with the proposal.

However, the case officer found that the application was not in line with a particular policy. “Policy CG 25 states that within the Strategic Open Gaps, the PA will encourage a number of uses and activities including the ‘promotion of ‘arable agricultural land uses’ in all areas not scheduled for environmental protection’.

The Application was internally discussed within the Development Management and was noted that although the site is not scheduled, the proposed use as a snail farm is not considered as being an ‘arable’ activity “and thus the proposal is considered to run counter to the aims of Policy CG 25 of the Central Malta Local Plan, 2006 and cannot be favourably recommended. The proposal therefore also runs counter to Thematic Objective 1.10 of the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development, which aims to control rural areas from being exploited by uses which are not supported in terms of land use.”