Plans For Six-Storey Apartment Block With Views Of Ta’ Pinu Church In Għarb Raise Concerns
A freshly surfaced development application for a six-storey block of apartments overlooking the Ta’ Pinu Church in Għarb has raised serious concerns among residents.
The plans, which are currently still in the vetting process, detail the proposed excavation and construction of 12 residential units, two indoor pools, and five basement garages, along Sqaq il-Fgura, a narrow alley situated within the quaint Gozitan town. It was filed by George Farrugia together with Perit Mario Cordina.
While the site is within the development area, a part of the development falls within the Outside Development Zone.
The site fronts an alley access to which is through a narrow street which is 2.3 metres at its narrowest point. Immediately adjacent to the site on the right, there are one-storey detached villas. To the left there is a semi-detached vernacular style house.
Residents have already started to file their objections to the development, stressing that such an apartment block certainly does not fit within the suggested location, calling for the PA’s refusal of the permit.
“It doesn’t fit the area, and it would set a dangerous precedent. We need to safeguard the area, and given that this is a very narrow alley, it would bring a lot of problems,” one resident told Lovin Malta.
The objections made are varied, including the intensification of use, loss of character and amenity of the area, restricted access to the site, and insufficient parking provision.
The increase in the number of floors being proposed also exceeds that provided in the Local Plan, meaning the plans also violate the current local plans.
“The proposed development is on a site which is designated as GZ-EDGE-1 which allows for a building height limitation of two floors with a three-course basement. Possibly an additional floor could be allowed,” the objections read.
“However, in the case at hand there are 5 floors and a basement being proposed. This goes against the number of levels allowed in the Local Plan and P35 of DC 15 which only allows 5 storeys where the total height is 17.5 metres.”
The plans are also in breach of a number of SPED Thematic Objectives, especially related to the increase of density of the urban area, the failure to ensure that all new developments are energy and water efficient, and failure of efficient use of natural resources.
The approval of the plans would set a dangerous precedent for the surrounding fields, apart from the transport and parking issues it would create given its location.
What do you make of these plans?
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