The perpetual struggle between developers and Malta’s diminishing natural landscape has once again surfaced, this time in the outskirts of Mosta.

PG Holdings, the operators of PAMA, one of the island’s largest shopping malls, have resurrected their proposal to develop land adjoining their current retail landmark in Mosta.

The catch? This piece of land falls within the stringent Outside Development Zones (ODZ) designation, where development should be strictly prohibited.

However, as has become all too common, developers often manage to secure approval for ODZ projects, raising questions about whether proposals offering substantial community benefits could become the new norm rather than the exception.

In an attempt to navigate this delicate balance, PAMA has updated its plans, unveiling images of an expansive, vibrant outdoor garden that would be open to the public.

While this move is seemingly a step towards environmental responsibility, it has been met with skepticism and cries of “greenwashing” – and rightly so, with the island’s modern history. 

Malta has witnessed the transformation of its precious untouched land into concrete jungles by developers, fuelling public mistrust.

Furthermore, environmental watchdogs are on high alert as the authorities tasked with safeguarding Malta’s natural beauty face allegations of employing questionable tactics to present developments as more environmentally friendly than they truly are.

Amidst these concerns, the potential approval of the PAMA project, despite repeated rejections by Malta’s Environment and Resource Authority, could set a dangerous precedent.

This raises a pressing question: in the face of inevitable development approvals and the country’s need for construction in chase of relentless economic growth, can projects compelled to include significant public benefits be viewed as an appealing compromise?

With the PAMA proposal under scrutiny, only time will tell if this becomes a new model for business to find ways to develop in ODZ lands, or is just the latest revision sent back to the drawing board.