An ODZ fuel station in Luqa is set for approval by the Planning Authority today, despite an imminent revision of the policy governing such developments.
A 3,000 square metre area of agricultural land on Qormi Road, adjacent to the Water Services Corporation head office, has been earmarked for the relocation of a station from Rue D’Argens, Sliema.
The new fuel station will also include a shop, tyre service garage, VRT garage, ATM and carwash.
The Planning Directorate, in line with the Fuel Stations Policy, which allows such facilities to be relocated from urban sites to ODZ areas, re-commended the application, by Raymond Brincat, for approval.
However, the policy is currently the subject of a revision ordered by Environment Minister José Herrera in January to address the “burden such developments are posing on agricultural or ecologically important land”.
Although the policy is meant to protect agricultural land and prioritise industrial zones and committed sites such as open storage areas, it has led to the approval of several applications on virgin land.
The ERA, entrusted with the review, has objected to the Luqa development, citing the “further unacceptable proliferation and intensification of additional large-scale physical developments in this remaining rural area”.
It argued that if the application were to be approved, it would set a precedent for other developments along this arterial road.
The ERA said that there was no valid justification for the further loss of rural land and associated environmental impacts when the development could be accommodated in areas already designated for such use.
Nature Trust, Birdlife, Din L-Art Ħelwa and Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar have also objected due to the excessive take-up of agricultural land. The Superintendence for Cultural Heritage (SCH) has said the permit should be refused unless an archaeological evaluation is first carried out.
However, the Directorate concluded the application was in line with the Fuel Stations Policy in terms of the location, siting, design and access arrangements.
The case officer said the environmental impacts highlighted by ERA could be mitigated through a construction management plan, and recommended approval against a planning gain of €75,000.