The Planning Authority has approved a planning application that will see a fuel station built on ODZ land in Marsascala, despite ERA concerns.

The development will take up around 1,500 sqm of agricultural land on Triq Sant' Antnin, and includes a shop, two garages, a back office, VRT and car services facilities. The application will mean the decommissioning of a fuel station in Floriana.

The move however, saw the ERA conclude that the application will have negative environmental impacts, including visual impacts, and potential pollution.

The ERA also criticised the site-selection exercise which the developer carried out.

The Planning Directorate held that the negative visual impact could be mitigated through the use of earth colours in the building' colour scheme, and other environmental mitigation measures could be included in the construction plan.

ENgo's Din L-Art Helwa and Front Ħarsien ODZ had objected to the proposed development.