Just 16 months after giving the go-ahead to two dilapidated buildings in Wied Għomor to be turned into new villas with pools, the Planning Authority is now considering plans for the villas to become a guesthouse.
A permit for the redevelopment of the derelict buildings, located outside development zones between St Julian’s and Swieqi, was approved in May 2017 despite multiple objections from residents and local councils due to the impact on the protected valley.
Objectors were further incensed when new plans were submitted last September for a change of use from villas into a guesthouse.
“The proposed guesthouse will manifestly generate a great deal more activity and, in particular, light and noise pollution than the original farmhouse and approved two residences,” the Swieqi local council wrote in its objection to the new application.
“Two families would be replaced by 12. The effect on fauna in the valley would be grave and needs to be restrained if the planning policies regarding conservation of natural environment is to be taken seriously,” it added.
Read: Will Wied Għomor be gobbled up by development?
Among more than 100 objections submitted to the planning watchdog in…
