One-Pump Petrol Station Could Take Over 3,000 Sqm Land In Birzebbuga After Proposal Submitted To PA
A planning application has been submitted for the potential transformation of a one-pump petrol point in Victoria into 3,000 sqm fuel station on agricultural land in Birzebbuga.
This is the second time a fuel station has been proposed on the site. The first, which was initially the creation of a completely new fuel station, was withdrawn in February 2019 after a case officer noted that policy only allowed the development of new sites within industrial areas.
Through finding a petrol station to relocate, Michael Zammit’s plans to develop a car wash, class 4D shop, Mechanical Shop, Tyre service vulcaniser garage and valeting garage on a 3,000 sqm land could become a reality.
All of this comes in the midst of serious controversy surrounding the issue after activists laid ‘siege’ to the Planning Authority in a protest of its fuel station policy.
The high-profile protest resulted in a confrontational meeting with ministers, who revealed that the review will be published this month.
The current policy allows for the construction of relocated fuel stations on a maximum of 3,000 square metres on ODZ land, in certain circumstances.
Transport Minister Ian Borg seems to agree that the policy is excessive, telling activists that “just because you have a maximum of 3,000 square metre limit, it does not mean that the PA should just give 3,000 square metre limit”.
READ NEXT: Sieges, Marches And Long-Awaited Revisions: A Beginner’s Guide To Malta’s Fuel Station Policy
