Shopping village proposed in Kirkop instead of Elbros yard

A major retail development, dubbed as the Malta Shopping Village, is proposed for the Elbros Construction Yard site in Kirkop, near Malta International Airport.

Although the site is outside the development zone (ODZ), it lies within a designated Area of Containment, where limited commercial and industrial development is allowed.

The site lies alongside the airport runway and is across the road from the STMicroelectronics industrial complex.

The planning application was put forward by ‪Elbros Concrete Ltd, which owns the land, but the project description statement presented to the environment authority was made by Qormi Construction Ltd, a company co-owned by Easysell Properties Ltd and the Tumas Group.

The project foresees the construction of a mixed-use commercial complex that includes an outlet village with a supermarket and three restaurants, a 123-room hotel, office space, a medical centre, and a sports centre.

The architectural designs were drawn up by Spadolini Architetti, an Italian firm based in Florence, in conjunction with Maltese firm Architecture Three Sixty.

The proposed project fronts both Triq l-Industrija and Triq il-Madonna tad-Dawl, and lies directly adjacent to the STMicroelectronics factory to the south. It also abuts the airport’s Flight Path Protection Zone.

The shopping complex will be distributed over four above-ground levels, supported by three basement levels that will accommodate a total of 1,221 car parking spaces, five van spaces, and 116 bicycle/scooter bays.

Vehicular access to the site will be from Triq il-Madonna tad-Dawl, which will also serve as the main exit point, while a separate service vehicle exit is planned onto Triq l-Industrija. Pedestrian access will be provided from both streets. The building heights will vary between two and four storeys, with the highest structures reaching 18.5 metres. Several roof gardens are also included in the plans.

The proposed development will have a built footprint of 11,943sq.m—approximately 37% of the site—with a gross floor area (GFA) of 102,871sq.m.

The existing Elbros operations currently carried out on site will be relocated to a new pre-cast facility in Ħal Far.

Traffic studies conducted by ADI limited, an environmental consultancy firm, conclude that the project is expected to generate an additional 4,526 vehicles in average annual daily traffic (AADT), with corresponding emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), PM2.5, and PM10.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has requested an Environmental Impact Study which has to assess the impacts on traffic and air quality.

The project will involve the demolition of 7,000 cubic metres of stone and the excavation of approximately 180,000 cubic metres of Lower Globigerina Limestone. Some of the excavated material will be reused on site, with the rest either recycled or disposed of at a licensed inert waste facility.

Most of the site lies within a Groundwater Safeguard Zone, and an active borehole is present on the premises. The land also falls within the boundaries of the airport’s bird sanctuary. The nearest cultural heritage feature is a Class B menhir located approximately 500 metres to the south on Triq Valletta. In addition, part of the site’s western boundary falls within an Archaeologically Sensitive Area, as identified in the South Malta Local Plan.

Existing vegetation on site includes alien species that will be removed as part of the landscaping works. However, mature Ficus macrocarpa trees on public land just south of the site and Pinus halepensis trees along the western boundary will be retained, as will existing rubble walls. The new boundary treatments will be designed to reflect the site's surrounding limestone landscape.

Furthermore, ERA has concluded that the proposed development requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The EIA will need to address land use, landscape and visual impact; construction-phase impacts on geology, geo-environment, and hydrogeology; traffic-related emissions and air quality; and the design of landscaping and external lighting.

This article has been updated with more details.