The Planning Board has expressed its intention to vote against a proposal that would see 10 tourism bungalows constructed on the site of the Pulvic explosives factory.

The proposal is for the construction of “boutique accommodation”, catering for a total of 14 guest bedrooms built within 10 separate one floor blocks, in place of the explosives factory. The proposal also features a communal pool area, 20 car parking spaces, landscaping works and reinstatement of rubble walls.

The site is located outside the development zone boundary of Dingli and gains access from Triq il-Qaws. The area is known as ‘tal-Qaws’ lies between ‘L-Irdum ta’ l-Iħfar’ and ‘Ix-Xagħra tal-Qaws’ and is located on high ground overlooking the scenic Mtaħleb and Dingli cliffs.

Moviment Graffitti, in a Facebook post, said that “after pressure from the public and NGOs, the Planning Board postponed the decision for the hotel and bungalows (…) The board has indicated its intention to go against the favourable recommendation to grant permission by the case officer.”

Seven board members, including ERA chairman Victor Axiak, Planning Board Chairman Vince Cassar, Dingli mayor Raymond Schembri and NGO representative Annick Bonello, among others, indicated that they disagreed with the case officer’s recommendation to approve the project.

Graffitti said that the final decision will be taken in another sitting, so as to grant the applicant a chance to address the reasons given by the board as to why they want to refuse the application.

“Prior to today’s sitting, the ERA changed its recommendation against the development to one in favour. Infrastructure Malta had also passed the provision of water towards this site through public funds before the application was approved," Graffitti said.

Graffitti said it had stressed the need for this application to be refused as it lies within ODZ in a sensitive environmental zone.

Objectors to the project are worried about the precedent it could create.

Project architect Joe Grech said that the site is already developed and that there are no habitats there.

ERA chairman Victor Axiak while having acknowledged his authority's green light of the project since the scale was reduced, said he was personally against it, which is why he voted against.