A highly controversial Planning Application that would have seen a 129 room elderly home built on ODZ land in Zurrieq has been withdrawn.

The application had received widespread criticism and hundreds of objections filed. On 27 April, The Malta Independent had first reported on the filing of the Outline Planning Application on the site, in the area known as L-Għadir, in Zurrieq. The site is located on Triq San Gwann and the total site area is circa 14,000 square metres and would have seen three recessed floors and a basement parking area constructed.

The Zurrieq local council had objected, and a Facebook Group called Save L-Għadir ODZ was set up.

Among other things, the council had argued that the proposal had gone against the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED), and said that the SPED clearly states where and how development for social and community use (including elderly homes) can be considered in rural zones. “In this context it seems that the applicant did not make a serious analysis of the possibility of constructing a similar development in the urban area, before considering other sites outside the development zone. The council was never approached by third parties showing an interest in a massive development like this in the locality.”

The council had highlighted that it had identified a possible location within the urban area where an elderly home could be constructed.

The case status has now been changed to: “This application for development permission has been withdrawn at the request of the applicant.”