MEPA launches Mriehel planning policy review for public consultation

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) has commenced the process of reviewing the current planning policies which guide development within the area of Mrieħel.

The locality was already chosen as an area suited for high rise buildings in the absence of any public consultation in 2014. MEPA is in fact already assessing an application for four high rise towers proposed by the Tumas and Gasan Groups and another application for a high rise tower by the JB stores group.

MEPA said today it was publishing, for public consultation, a set of strategic objectives, which will guide the review, and formulation of the new policies. “These proposed objectives are in line with the new approved Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED), which identifies the Mrieħel Industrial Area as an enterprise hub with the vision of directing new jobs in the core economic development sectors towards this and other similar hubs,” MEPA said.

In a new policy regulating building heights, Mriehel was included as one of the zones where buildings of over 10 storeys could be located. Before today, no public consultation was held on this change to the original plan issued in 2013, which made no mention of Mriehel.

This meant that the public, NGOs and stakeholders had no chance to comment on the choice of Mriehel as a site for high-rise office buildings, despite its sensitive location on the line of vision on high ground between Valletta and the historic old capital, Mdina.

The policy review thus comes as MEPA is considering two other high-rise developments in Mriehel: a centre aimed at offering offices for the financial services sector, consisting of four towers ranging in height between 15 and 19 storeys, is being proposed by the Tumas and Gasan groups.

Another 13-storey tower is being proposed by Albert Sant, one of the owners of the JB Stores retail outlet.

MEPA is also considering the Farsons Business Park, which will include seven low-rise office blocks intersected by courtyards and connected to a multi-level car park for 700 cars.

HSBC Bank Malta is also in discussions with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the creation of a “new centre” in Mriehel. 
When asked by MaltaToday whether MEPA had received any proposal for a high-rise development by HSBC, a spokesperson for the authority confirmed that an “initial meeting” has already been held to discuss the “creation of a new centre in Mriehel”.

A spokesperson for the bank neither confirmed nor excluded that the bank was interested in high-rise development. 

In its statement today, MEPA said the proposed objectives include the designation of an Urban Regeneration Priority Area (URPA) in Mrieħel, providing a general policy framework for its regeneration and transformation into an attractive, efficient and green place.

The objective is also to set out a detailed land use framework including site layout, building heights and broad design guidelines, which also takes into account existing landmark features, while also addressing impacts on long distance strategic views from Mdina towards Valletta from tall buildings within the area.

Additionally, the review will seek to implement the strategic direction for the Mrieħel Enterprise Hub, within the larger Mrieħel URPA including the redefinition of the boundary of the Hub, the upgrading of the industrial area into a hub that meets current and future industrial and commercial needs and to provide supporting amenities to the Hub without creating adverse environmental impacts.

Moreover, the review must ensure that the infrastructure network can accommodate the planned development.   

The full list of the proposed objectives, together with the maps, may be viewed from the Authority’s website www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation. MEPA is inviting the public and all interested stakeholders to send their submissions on these proposed objectives through e-mail address: [email protected]. Submissions are to be received by the Authority not later than Friday 22 January 2016.

A second public consultation phase will be held once the new proposed policies and maps pertaining to this review are completed.