Lidl’s Fgura plans hit brick wall

Lidl’s plans for a new supermarket on the site of a scrap-yard along Triq id-Dejma in Fgura seems to be heading towards a refusal, after the Planning Authority’s directorate described the proposed development as “excessive and deleterious” for the surrounding residential area.

The local plan approved in 2006 had specified that development on this site, which was included to development boundaries, should include recreational facilities in the form of public urban open spaces, social and community facilities apart from residential and commercial development.

A planning application to develop the area had been presented by Lidl in 2016 but this was later withdrawn, following a screening letter in which the PA informed the developers that the project was not in line with the local plan.

Subsequently Lidl submitted a Planning Control Application through which they tried to change the local plan to accommodate a supermarket over an area of 2,800sq.m and an adjacent carpark over 5,600sq.m of land apart from the other uses foreseen in the local plan.
But the case officer concluded that the development as proposed would have a deleterious impact on its surroundings and would result in a considerable shortfall in public open space.

Noting that the supermarket and its carpark would cover 38% of the site the case officer described the proposed development as disproportionate.

Only 15% of the total site area was identified as a public open space in the application presented by Lidl.

The proposal submitted by Lidl seeks to establish the planning parameters for a mixed-use development comprising a supermarket and ancillary facilities, public open space, residential units and commercial retail floor space at the scrap-yard on Triq id-Dejma in Fgura.
A height of 17.50 metres is being proposed.

A final decision will be taken by the PA’s Executive Council – which determines planning control applications – in the next weeks.
The Fgura Local Council had objected to the proposal because of the lack of public open spaces and social and community facilities foreseen in the local plan.