The approval of four “massive” villas in Kalkara’s Santu Rokku areas, against the recommendations of the case officer, disregarded all policies, according to environmental NGO Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar.

FAA said it is supporting residents in their appeal against the Planning Authority's granting of the permission to build 4 massive villas in an ODZ area, with the consequent loss of protected trees and to the detriment of our natural heritage. 

“The development, set in the hamlet of Santu Rokku in Kalkara, was approved last month by the Planning Authority despite the case officer's clearly stated recommendation to refuse the application due it being in contravention of a number of planning policies,” it said. 

An FAA spokesperson said: "The area is designated a s a Rural Area under the current policies which also impose a presumption against development in such areas. It is completely unacceptable to have decisions of the sort where all policies are completely disregarded and not even referred to. If this decision is confirmed we will insist on an audit of the way certain decision-makers are acting, prejudicing the rights of citizens and future generations in the most obscure way."