Recent plans by the Planning Authority to convert Ta’ Qali’s industrial zone into a commercial destination seem geared to benefit a “private landowner” rather than the nation at large, Malta’s Chamber of Architects has said in a damning statement.

“The proposals appear to be directed more towards appeasing a major private landowner and facilitating their interests than achieving any planning gains or safeguarding the national interest and that of the public at large,” the Chamber said.

Last September, the Planning Authority announced a review to change the inappropriate industrial status of the area, with its main aim to convert the area into a “quality commercial destination ”through sustainable architectural and urban design with adequate infrastructure provision”.

Located right by the American Embassy, the whole area is a massive 60,000 square metres, with the new building expected to be around 17 metres tall.

However, the Chamber described the revision as “premature and lacking in proper studies that would normally arise in a serious and well-considered approach”.

Across the developed world, the chamber explained, “out-of-town commercial centres are largely being abandoned in favour of rehabilitated inner-city or urban facilities” in order to mitigate the pollution and traffic congestion caused by large scale development.

Located right by the American Embassy, the whole area is a massive 60,000 square metres, with the new building expected to be around 17 metres tall.

The Chamber questioned why the Planning Authority was even looking to transform the area into a commercial destination, nothing that the area is earmarked as a rural area, and would be better served as a site that complements either the nearby sports facilities or the national park.