Luqa Overdevelopment By Stealth
The Planning Authority has received an abusive application for the complete development of 8,700sqm of un-built land in the heart of Luqa without providing any open spaces and communal facilities as obliged to through Local Plan policies.
This is being done by abusively splitting the site into 5 separate development applications, using the unethical process known as ‘salami-slicing’ to additionally evade an Environmental Impact Assessment that would be necessary to determine the impact on this development on the lives of both present and future residents of the locality.
By proposing 14 repetitive facades across 5 large blocks without any green open spaces, communal facilities or basic amenities, this development will result in nothing more than a large scale dormitory complex completely void of all that is needed for the creation of a sense of place, character and community.
It is an example of the bad planning practice of the past that has ruined the character and pleasantness of our towns and villages, and must not be allowed to continue.
We urge you to object to this development by simply going on the link below and entering your name and email address in the form at the bottom of the page. This will send an objection in your name to the Planning Authority with minimal effort from your side.
Submitting representations is your statutory right, and in no way exposes you to legal action or recrimination. Please ignore any message from the Planning Authority if you send this in late – that only affects your legal right to appeal which is not the case here.
Thank you for taking a stand and helping us protect Malta’s communities!
*****FULL OBJECTION TEXT*****
I the undersigned object to the following permit applications and request to be listed as a third party objector – PA/07313/16, PA/07607/16, PA/07609/16, PA/07610/16, PA/07611/16
The applicant is proposing to develop 8,700sqm of unbuilt land in the heart of Luqa without providing any open spaces and communal facilities as obliged to through Local Plan policies. This is being done by abusively splitting the site into 5 separate development applications, using the unethical process known as ‘salami-slicing’.
This site fragmentation further evades screening for an Environmental Impact Assessment [EIA] that the development would qualify for since the combined proposal will result in over 270 new residential units in an area already surrounded by residential properties.
EIA screening and the studies that follow will be necessary to ensure that the impact of the development on traffic, air quality, noise and other factors, is analysed, and that on the basis of these results, mitigation measures are implemented at the early planning stages to ensure that the well-being of residents, both present and future, is safeguarded.
EIA screening is especially important due to the sites proximity to a school attended by young children who are highly vulnerable to chronic respiratory and lung disease made worse through increased traffic and dust particles from construction sites, as would result from this development.
These 270 additional units are being proposed in an area where there are still many yet unsold vacant properties. It is not the Planning Authority’s responsibility to churn out applications but rather to control development through good planning practice “on behalf of the community to provide a balanced and sustainable environment.”
By proposing 14 repetitive facades across 5 large blocks without much-needed open spaces, communal facilities, basic amenities or green landscaped areas, this development will result in nothing more than a large-scale dormitory complex completely void of all that is needed for the creation of a sense of place, character and community. It is an example of the bad planning practice of the past that has ruined the state and pleasantness of our towns and villages, and must not be allowed to continue.
I call on the Planning Authority to uphold national planning and environmental legislation by refusing these abusive applications. All new development must truly contribute to an improved urban environment through modern planning principles and can no longer be allowed to ruin the state of our shared communities.