PA board turns down extension of fuel station on ODZ land

The Planning Board gave a thumbs down for an existing fuel station to be given planning permission to extend its facilities on ODZ land.

The existing station along Triq il-Mina ta’ Hompesch, limits of Zabbar sought to construct a Class 4B shop, install fuel storage tanks at basement level and relocate its 4 fuel filling stations to a vacant parcel of land adjacent to its existing facility.

The Broad cited that the proposed extension runs counter to the 2015 Fuel Service Stations Policy, which only allows upgrading of existing fuel stations without the further take-up of ODZ land.

Additionally, the Board also noted that the development would compromise an agricultural area when its use is not necessary or legitimate in rural areas.

The Planning Board also turned down an outline development application for the construction of a Primary Junior School to cater for 880 students proposed to be situated in Pembroke adjacent to a Natura 2000 site.

The school with a site area of approximately 15,927 square metres planned to have 36 classes, a kindergarten, ancillary facilities inclusive of extensive spaces for outdoor playing and sports facilities.

The site on which the school was proposed to be built is primarily garrigue land sitting across a residential area.

The Board agreed with the Planning Directorate’s recommendation that the proposed project will compromise the objectives of the Pembroke Development Brief as detailed in the North Harbours Local Plan.