The Planning Authority Board has approved the master plan for The Malta International Airport, which will see the construction of three blocks roughly the same height as Skyparks, along with several extensions to the current the arrival and departure terminals.

11 board members voted in favour while one voted against.

Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri, who is from Luqa, was among those who made interventions when the floor was given to the public; and told the PA board that while most of the country was in favour of development, there was a “a lack of corporate social responsibility”.

He said that MIA should employ measures to counter the negative effects on surrounding communities and introduce initiatives to improve the embellishment of the locality.

AD chairman Carmel Capacardo echoed this sentiment, telling the board that there was no consultation with the locality of Gudja, which is just a stone’s throw away from the airport.

He also raised concerns that there was a particular emphasis on the commercial activities which are related to the core functioning of the airport, especially with the move increase air traffic to night and waive such costs during construction, which he explained would drastically increase the noise pollution in the area.

PA CEO Johann Buttigieg revealed that a large amount of the planning gain from the development, which he said amounts to more than €4 million, will be distributed equally to the surrounding local councils, which are Luqa, Safi, Kirkop, Gudja, Mqabba, Zurrieq and Ghaxaq.

 

What does the master plan entail?

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.

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’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), which will be the same height as the Skyparks buildings, will house a mixture of retail and offices.

Another building (Block C) will replace the existing soft landscaped area and the car park adjacent to Skyparks, and will be around 8 metres higher than the building; which will house offices and a hotel.

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.

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. The architect has identified 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.

Block H will consist of the front extension to the Terminal Building and will consist of Terminal Facilities; while Block J will be use for commercial purposes. Block L is an extension of the current departure and arrival terminals.

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.