A second application regarding a dwelling and a pool next to the Xaghra stone circle is set to be decided by the Planning Authority Board this Thursday.

The Xagħra Stone Circle, also known as the Xagħra Hypogeum, is a Neolithic funerary complex consisting of a series of underground caves which were used to bury the dead, and which were surrounded by a walled enclosure. It mainly dates back to around 3000 to 2400 BC, although the earliest tombs at the site date back to 4100 to 3800 BC. The caves collapsed sometime before 2000 BC, and the site was later used for domestic and agricultural purposes.

The first application near the stone circle was heard before the Planning Board on 23 August. That application sought to extend an old building on ODZ land just a few metres away from the circle, and construct a swimming pool. It was rejected.

An application on a separate site which is set to be heard on Thursday 6 September is located further away but is still close to the heritage site, within the Archaeological Park. It is also located in the vicinity of the UNESCO World Heritage buffer zone due to the Ggantija temples, Xaghra Stone Circle and Ghar ta’ Ghejzu. This application seeks to demolish an existing garage and re-construct one dwelling on the footprint of a pre-1978 structure, located on Triq 28 Ta' April 1688, Xaghra, Gozo. The case officer’s report notes that the existing structure on the site is currently being used for light industry purposes and that it is a modern one and currently has an active enforcement notice.

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage had argued that this application seeks to develop property which is within an Area of Archaeological Importance (AAI) of the Ggantija Temples and the Xaghra Circle. “This area is of considerable archaeological potential. Both the Ggantija Temples and the Xaghra Circle are Class A Scheduled monuments by the Planning Authority and also forms part of the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The survival of archaeological remains in the area cannot be excluded. Any development can lead to accidental discoveries that may pose a threat to the cultural heritage.”

The Superintendence recommends that this development application should be refused.

The Environment and Resources Authority, in its consultation, said that the existing illegal development “is being used as a stepping stone to obtain a permit for unacceptable development beyond the development zone. The latter would lend to the intensification of residential use ODZ and hence the current proposal is still objectionable from an environmental point of view.”

The Case Officer’s report noted that the proposed demolition of the illegal structure is highly recommended. “The structure has no apparent heritage value since it is a post war construction. Also the demolition of the structure would close the enforcement placed on site and would be considered as an improvement since the current development is substantial large and is negatively impacting the Area of Archaeological Importance.”

The report notes that the application includes a proposed pool, in an area of the site designated as ODZ land. “The proposed pool and decking area has a total area of 73 square meters as required in the Rural Policy Document.”

The Case Officer, in his conclusions, recommended that the proposal be refused. Among the reasons for refusal, the case officer states that the proposed development would have an adverse impact on an important archaeological site or area and would conflict the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development which aims to safeguard and enhance cultural heritage. The case officer also listed a number of other policies which the proposal runs counter to.