An Outline Development Permit application for a master plan of The Malta International Airport is set to be discussed by the Planning Authority Board this Thursday, and the plans show some major additions.

The site, having an area of approximately 173,000m² consists of the Malta International Airport (MIA) grounds in Vjal l-Avjazzjoni in Luqa. The site falls within the confined boundary of the previously approved Master Plan for the MIA issued on 31st July 1997.

The Case Officer’s report for the master plan read that “this new Master Plan includes an overall strategy for the overall area, taking into consideration the land resources available and today’s needs and uses related to the airport operations and other indirect operations which are envisaged to increase employment in this area, together with offering amenity uses for tourist and locals from different perspectives”

The overall development consists of a number of blocks. Three blocks in the immediate area of the existing Skyparks (Block A), called Blocks B, C & E, will have a mixture of uses ranging from a showroom, catering, retail, office and a hotel use. A building (Block B) will replace the existing car-wash. The height of this building will be the same as that of the existing Skyparks, namely 31.78 metres and will be a mixture of retail and offices. Another building (Block C) will replace the existing soft landscaped area and the car park adjacent to Skyparks. This building will house offices, and a hotel, and this building will be 40.53 metres high, namely 8.75 metres higher than the existing Skyparks.

The third building, Block E according to the plans, will replace the existing Mc Donald’s outlet, drive-through and car park. This building is proposed to have a showroom together with offices and this building will be 27 metres high, namely 4.78 metres lower than the existing Skyparks.

According to the plans, the area dubbed as Block D will consist of the relocation of the petrol station due to introduction of the aforementioned blocks. The petrol station is still being proposed and will be situated adjacent to the present open car parking area dedicated to coaches, but it will be directly accessible from the main road leading to Kirkop.

The plan also envisages certain protrusions onto the existing main carpark from the airport. There are three such cases, the first being the area dubbed as Block G on the plans. It will be situated on the side of Block H within the existing car park level. “This building will protrude onto the parking area. The architect is identifying the use of this building as a ‘supermarket’, but the use will be left as a reserved matter for further studies when the relative application will be submitted and assessed. This building will be 3.59 metres high, when measured from the existing car park level.”

Block H will consist of the front extension to the Terminal Building and will consist of Terminal Facilities. This building will protrude onto the parking area. This building will be 3.59 metres high, when measured from the existing car park level.

Block J will be centrally situated and protruding from the existing Terminal Building onto the parking area. This building is proposed to have commercial together with offices and catering outlets. This building will be on 2 floors and will be 17.70 metres when measured from the existing car park level.

Further development (Block L on the plans) will consist of two lateral extensions to the sides of the existing Terminal Building and will consist of Terminal Facilities. These buildings will protrude onto and replace the existing parking areas, but basement parking catering for them is still being proposed. This building will be on 2 floors and will be 10.06 metres, when measured from the car parking levels on the sides of the Terminal Building.

While Skyparks was phase 1, Blocks B-D are labelled as phase 2, Blocks E-J are listed as phase 3, and Block L is listed as phase 4. Phase 5 will consist of landscaping. Aside from this master plan, the Planning Authority has already granted a permit for the demolition of an existing car-park and buildings (housing the police station at the airport), and construction of a multi-storey public car-park within airport perimeter to accommodate a total of 1,396 vehicle parking spaces.

In the Project Description Report submitted originally with this application on 10th November 2010, the architect outlined that the fundamental basis of the concept outlines four major uses: Commercial and office units, which, as income-generating uses, will facilitate future upgrading and financing; Accommodation relating to the establishment of a business park within the confines of the site; Leisure and entertainment facilities; Large-scale car parking provision.

The Case Officer has recommended that the proposal be approved.