Massive equestrian facility proposed in Naxxar

A planning application has been presented for the development of an equestrian facility on 11,046 square metres of land at Ta’ Bingjala in Maghtab Naxxar.

The project proposed by Vincent Borg includes a 4.2 metre high roofed “horse walker” facility on 270 square metres of land and a 972 square metre open air horse track.

Stables and paddocks will occupy 514 square metres of land.

The proposal includes a 116 square metre pool for horses, an 867 square metre passageway made of grass blocks and even solar panels on stable roofs. Other facilities include a 113 square metre store and a manure clamp.

The application comes in the wake of a new policy promoting development in the countryside.

Through the new policy, an unspecified amount of similarly sized stables are allowed in other ODZ areas which are far away from any existing dwellings. These stables have to be either constructed in timber or in stone clad in timber and must be built at a distance of not less than 100 metres from the development zone boundary to avoid inconvenience to residents.

The only limits on the size of new stables imposed by the new policy apply to farms within 200 metes of public groundwater sources. Only stables hosting two to six horses can be kept in these areas. The more restrictive policy enacted in 2007 limited the number of new stables in ODZ areas to four and banned new stables, which were more than 300 metres away from the development zone boundary. 

New stables, which were less than 100 metres away from existing buildings, were also banned. Moreover while the old policy stipulated that applicants must present proof of ownership of horses, no such requirement is found in the new policy.