A Planning Control application that could have led to the construction on the edge of Wied Ghomor in St Julian's has been withdrawn by the applicant.

The application proposed to change the zoning of this in-scheme site to "mixed use, underlying car park, offices, shops, and overlying residential development. Zoning to include Sports Related and Community facilities at one level."

The application had been filed by Carmelo Borg.

The site consists of a vacant and undeveloped land measuring circa 2,740 sqm. and is surrounded by public roads. The site abuts Triq il-Baltiku to the north, which road is a peripheral road around St Julian's and follows the Development Zone boundary line. To the west and south of the site is a slip road connecting Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli with Triq Il-Baltiku. Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli abuts the site on the east side.

The Case Officer's report had read that St. Julian's Policy Map SJ 2 earmarks the site as a Public Open Space (NHRL 01). "Policy NHRL 01 seeks to protect remaining open public spaces and prevents their development to other uses. The Environment and Resources Authority also expressed their reservations on the proposed commercial and residential zoning and recommended that the site remains as an open space "

It read that "a considerable number" of representations had been submitted on this application "whereby most of the representations brought to light share the same concerns. These revolved mainly around concerns pertaining to a lack of planning justifications for a change in zoning and a lack of justification for a drastic change in building height from an open space to a multi-storey building."

The case officer had recommended refusal.