A proposed fuel station policy has been reissued for public consultation, the Planning Authority has announced.

The new amended draft includes changes which the PA say will make it more restrictive for new fuel stations to be granted planning permission.

It said that one of the critical amendments was that for an existing fuel station to be granted planning permission, it must be in use at the time of application.

It will also be a pre-requisite that only fuel stations that create negative issues in urban centres will be relocated.

An ODZ site will only be considered if it is already covered by a valid development permit, or if the site is already committed by development carried out before 1967.

The committed development must not be related to agriculture and/or animal husbandry.

Such sites will only be considered if a wider environmental benefit is achieved and the development is compatible with the context of the area.

An ODZ fuel station also will not be allowed to exceed 1,000 square metres.

These restrictions will also be applied to an application that was submitted before the policy and has not yet been determined.

The issue surrounding fuel stations has been topped of national debate after a series of small petrol points were granted massive tracts of ODZ land, prompting protests and a standoff with ministers.

Submissions can be made in:

In writing and sent to a postal address: Planning Authority, Director of Planning, St Francis Ravelin, Floriana FRN1234

In email:  [email protected]

The latest revised changes to the Fuel Stations Policy may be viewed on the PA’s website on https://www.pa.org.mt/en/consultation-details/review-of-fuel-service-station-policy-2015-phase-3.

Submissions must reach the Authority by not later than 1st November 2019.

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