Fawwara - turning into yet another Bahrija?

Abstract

Developers have a knack of swooping on pristine areas. The latest scalp to be added is Fawwara, limits of Siggiewi, where horseplay is certainly not in short supply. Within Triq San Lawrenz alone ten different planning applications have been filed. As a prelude, I start with application number 2821/97: a number of requested sanctionings and alterations, all of which were refuted by the MEPA Board, were approved by the Planning Appeals Board. The most blatant example of the complete lack of consistency between the MEPA and Planning Appeals boards is the case of Panda Farmhouse (or rather, Panda megaproperty, since the farmhouse is long gone), the subject of development application 05707/98. This relates to the sanctioning of the demolition and subsequent re-erection of a farmhouse overlying a basement. The MEPA Board ardently refused to approve since it is yet another ODZ (Outside Development Zone) property.