As reported last week, this newspaper will continue analysing the new development boundaries exercise even after the consultation period for submissions closes. This is being done to explain to the general public in layman’s terms how these new boundaries will affect the topography and character of Malta’s towns and villages. With over 22 per cent of the country now built up, a further 2.4 per cent will be given over for new building developments.

Last week we focused on Mqabba and Mgarr; this week it is the turn of Zebbiegh and Mellieha, two northern localities that will be losing a substantial amount of land.

Zebbiegh

This small rural village has grown considerably in the past decade due to the building of several nondescript houses in what used to be a charming and remote area that has turned most of it into a mass of concrete blocks. As already pointed out last week, it seems that the intention is to eventually link Zebbiegh to Mgarr, as a nonsensical corridor is being proposed between the larger village and the smaller hamlet, which will undoubtedly lead to a bunch of buildings in between the two settlements.

At first glance, Zones A and B seem to conform to Cabinet criteria, as they appear to round off the development zone quite nicely. However, when one sees the large area of land which lies in the development zone that is unbuilt (as can be seen by studying the map closely), the inclusion of further extensions does seem rather questionable, especially since the hamlet has grown considerably and is now almost the size of a small town.

Zone C rounds off the development adjoining the roundabout that leads to the picturesque hamlet of Bingemma, while Zone D, that rectangular corridor stuck out in the middle of nowhere does appear rather incongruous as already noted last week when we discussed Mgarr. This does appear to be sanctioning a number of villas and houses built outside the development zones, which now have been given the blessing of being within the scheme. This will undoubtedly give rise to frenzied speculation in the large parcel of land that lies between Zebbiegh and Mgarr, although it is outside the development zone so far.

Mellieha – Manikata

There has been extensive coverage on the situation at Mellieha, which has a rapidly expanding urban sprawl. The intensity of the development can be seen from the map, but what is quite startling in this locality is that it is the only one where parcels of land that are being removed from the development zone are being “compensated” for elsewhere.

The tract of land to the north that is excluded from the development zone, is the one known as ‘Tas Sellum’, where a particularly notorious development is already under way. Although this particular safeguard is welcome, one fails to understand the logic of handing over a replacement site (bottom), which is larger than what had originally been within the scheme.

This tract is being proposed as an extension of Zone A, which is a huge area of land that will eventually seal off the town quite nicely. However, those residents who bought homes on the other side of the road, and who up to now enjoy open country views, are rightfully complaining that this view will be lost forever. The area in question appears to be government land so it will supposedly provide space for housing units at subsidised prices in what appears to be pristine land that will be lost to the bulldozer and the excavator.

When one moves to the tiny hamlet of Manikata, the situation is rather less serious although the tract of land to the north does seem quite disproportionate in size and will definitely contribute to further building. It is also rather inexplicable when one notes the substantial empty areas that remain within the development zone of the hamlet, although the scheme does appear to sanction a number of houses that were previously outside it.

Residents of both localities have expressed serious reservations on the situation with those from Mellieha even presenting a petition to the Prime Minister on the issue.

Next week we will focus on Msida and Naxxar (including Bahar ic-Caghaq and Maghtab). Comments and suggestions are welcome on [email protected]