Żejtun Labour committee invokes party statute against 'excessive development'

The Żejtun Labour Party local committee has reiterated its opposition to three proposed developments in the locality, citing concerns over building outside development zones (ODZ), excessive construction in urban conservation areas (UCA) and the impact on scheduled heritage buildings.

In a statement, the committee said it opposed developments that compromised residents’ quality of life and the distinctive characteristics of the town’s historic and natural surroundings.

It invoked Principle 6 of Chapter 2 of the Labour Party statute, which commits the party to protecting the environment, culture and national heritage as essential to a better quality of life and the rights of future generations.

The three applications singled out by the committee include a residential project in Triq Marsaxlokk, a proposed elderly home on ODZ land and a large apartment development near Villa Cagliares.

MaltaToday previously reported the elderly home proposal, application PA/07394/26. It seeks to replace a disused livestock farm with a three-storey care facility, underground parking and a reservoir on 5,500sqm of agricultural land along Triq il-Firies and Sqaq il-Wied, just outside Żejtun's development zone.

Site of the proposed development in Żejtun

Antoine Abela submitted the outline application and declared full ownership of the land.

The site is designated as an agricultural area under the South Malta Local Plan, where development is generally restricted to buildings and uses essential to agriculture. However, planning policies allow elderly care facilities on ODZ land in certain circumstances, provided applicants demonstrate that feasible alternatives within development zones and on previously developed sites have been exhausted.

The application remains at outline stage, with the Planning Authority yet to decide whether the site is acceptable in principle for the proposed use.

The Labour committee said it could not support construction on ODZ land that threatened the natural heritage around Ħajt il-Wied and Wied il-Mazza. It also warned that approval could establish a precedent for further development in the valley.

Its other objections concern application PA/07206/25 in Triq Marsaxlokk, where plans submitted on 3 November propose 35 garages and 10 apartments. The committee argued that the building would be out of keeping with the UCA and increase traffic and congestion in a quiet, historic part of Żejtun.

The third objection concerns application PA/07775/26, which proposes 54 more apartments, eight penthouses, a shop and extensive garaging within the protected setting of Grade 1 scheduled Villa Cagliares, a scheduled building of historical and architectural importance. The committee said the development was too close to the property, while part of the site also lies within a UCA.   It described the proposed scale of construction as incompatible with the character of the surrounding area. The committee pledged to stand alongside residents and other organisations to protect Żejtun's historic heritage, natural environment and character for future generations.

Heritage organisation Wirt iż-Żejtun has also formally objected to application PA/07775/26. The organisation said it was not opposing redevelopment of the site but argued that the proposed height, density and scale could undermine the historic monument’s visual integrity and its wider setting, which is protected under Planning Authority Circular 3/20.