PG Holdings, the brains behind PAMA supermarket in Mosta, have unveiled their big new proposal for an extension to their existing mall on nearby ODZ (Outside Development Zone) land.

The render shows their latest above-ground vision, as first revealed by MaltaToday, limited to what they’re calling a “glazed canopy” over the entrance lifts to the underground levels and a sprawling garden area.

However, the real bombshell lies below ground – they’re planning to dig three floors deep, creating a cavernous 9,970 sqm of retail and dining space, plus a whole new car park for another 359 vehicles.

They’re even throwing in a “mature public garden” on the ground floor, complete with an outdoor gym, footpaths and a picnic area.

But don’t expect any cozy outdoor dining spots – all the eateries will be tucked away in the first basement level, along with the shops.

If you’re curious, they’ve provided photomontages that showcase a garden surrounded by Cypress trees – a stark contrast to what’s currently on the site, which is partially being used as a car park.

These new plans have scaled down the above-ground features, scrapping the once-proposed 10-meter-high entrance building that was set to occupy part of the land previously home to an abandoned marble factory.

However, environment watchdogs are concerned that allowing this kind of sweetener to be added to a development on ODZ land could set a precedent. 

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has been vehemently opposed to this project from the get-go. They fear that approving such a development in an ODZ area could pave the way for more sprawl and urbanization. But despite their concerns, PG Holdings is forging ahead, and the outcome remains uncertain.

And there’s more to consider – studies from 2020 estimate that this project will generate a massive 152,750 cubic meters of excavation waste, not to mention the new traffic routes slicing through the ODZ site.

This underground retail space is proposed beneath a 13,700 sqm agricultural field that’s seen better days, and it includes the demolition of an old marble processing plant, some of which has faced enforcement issues dating back to 2006.