ERA says proposal for supermarket on ODZ land in Marsascala ‘objectionable’
A planning application to construct a supermarket on land located outside the development zone is “objectionable from an environmental point of view”, the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has said.
The site in question is a disused quarry on Triq Sant'Antnin, Marsascala. Aside from a supermarket at ground floor level, the application also proposes an ancillary car park at roof level and photovoltaic panels above the car parking spaces. The application indicates that the site has an area of 9,350 sq.m.
In official documents filed with regards to this Planning Application (PA/06530/23), the ERA said that the proposed supermarket "is objectionable from an environmental point of view, as this would lead to uptake of land ODZ to accommodate urban uses. Urban type developments should be restricted to areas already established for such uses".
The ERA also noted that the applicant needs to file a project description statement (PDS) in accordance with Environment Impact Assessment regulations for any further processing. "However, it is to be noted that the PDS would not resolve the objection identified," ERA said, adding that "any such submission would be at applicant's sole initiative and without prejudice to such objection".
The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage also has issues with the proposed development.
"The Superintendence acknowledges that the site was formerly used as a quarry, as indicated on the 1968 Survey Sheets, but observes that the quarrying activity has ceased for a long time." It said that photos show that the site has been partly reclaimed by nature with the extensive proliferation of vegetation, "thus restoring to some extent the integration of the site with the rural landscape in the immediate vicinity".
It also noted that the existing development commitments towards the rear of the site are for residential properties within the designated development boundaries, "and therefore do not justify the encroachment of the proposed development on the undeveloped quarry area that borders and transitions towards a predominantly rural and cultural landscape, composed of terraced fields, rubble walls and rural paths". The Superintendence also said that it advocates for previously quarried areas to be
rehabilitated, "contributing to the enhancement and improvement of the surrounding landscape".
It holds that the proposal "constitutes an unacceptable commitment to extensive and intense development in an area that deserves to be further rehabilitated and re-integrated with the surrounding rural landscape". The Superintendence went on to say that it is opposed to this development application from a cultural heritage point of view.
A number of representations from the public have also been filed.
Moviment Graffitti said that "Malta does not need more supermarkets, especially on land where this type of development is expressly prohibited. An ODZ supermarket in Marsascala would lead to further environmental degradation, urbanisation and commercialisation of the surrounding area, as well as to a loss in the quality of life for residents and visitors". It argued that the application goes against policy. "There is absolutely no justification for a supermarket on this site and Moviment Graffitti calls on the Planning Authority to categorically refuse this application."
Other objections that were filed include ones from the Marsascala Residents Network, Nature Trust Malta and others.
The site of this planning application is close by to another application which also includes a supermarket.
This other application (PA/07170/23) is located on Triq iz-Zafran and Triq
Sant'Antnin, and proposes the demolition of existing structures, the excavation and construction of basement levels, a basement supermarket and overlying retail outlets, a gymnasium, take-away fast food and restaurants outlets, as well as a hotel with indoor and outdoor pool areas. ADPD-The Green Party had said about this other application, which is also on ODZ land, that it has submitted an objection. The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage has also taken issue with this application. "While taking cognisance of the presence of a number of existing structures within the site footprint, these are insufficient for this tract of land to be considered as committed, and to warrant the scale and intensity of the proposed development," the Superintendence said about PA/07170/23.
"The land being predominantly vacant and undeveloped, borders at its rear a typical rural and cultural landscape that exemplifies the traditional agricultural features and practices of the Maltese countryside, such as rural paths, terraced fields and rubble walls, meriting preservation within their wider context. Considering the above, the proposal, as submitted, constitutes an unacceptable negative impact on the rural and cultural landscape and its legibility. This development application is therefore objectionable from a Cultural Heritage point of view," the Superintendence added.