Land for supermarket within development zones - MEPA

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority refuse Flimkien Ghall-Ambjent Ahjar’s accusation that MEPA issued an outline development permit for the construction of a supermarket in Xewkija on land outside the development zone and compromised by the 2006 rationalisation of local plans.

“The Authority insists that prior to issuing any media statements FAA should ensure that it has all its facts right and up-to-date. Otherwise, it may unnecessarily alarm and mislead the public,” MEPA said.

MEPA said that the land in question was “located within the development boundaries well before the approval of the local plans in 2006 or the Development Zone Rationalisation exercise in the same year”.

The development zone boundary in the area had not changed since approval of the temporary provision schemes (TPS) was given by parliament in 1988.

According to the press release sent by MEPA, the site is also indicated in the Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands and which sets the strategic framework for development in Malta.

Citing from the relevant strategic policy IND3, MEPA said that new industrial sites would be identified in the related local plans west of the existing estate at Xewkija. “The designation of the part of the existing Xewkija industrial estate on the north east side of the Mgarr to Victoria road is changed to showrooms exceeding 500 sq m customer floor space and retail warehouses.

“In this area, there have been no changes to the boundary in the 2006 local plan or the Development Zone Rationalisation exercise. This information is readily available on the MEPA website and anybody can independently verify these facts,” MEPA said.