A planning application seeking approval to install a large solar farm not far from the airport runway has been filed.

The application would, according to documentation filed, see the installation of 5,427 solar panels on land with a site area of 24,381 square metres.

The site in question is a restored quarry located outside the development zone, known as 'Tal-Isqof', off of Triq il-Belt Valletta, Sqaq Nru. 2, Mqabba.

The application proposes the installation of the photovoltaic farm on an "existing partly backfilled quarry", and proposes site formation, construction of a periphery low boundary wall with overlying periphery fence and landscaping, six water reservoirs, an access gate, installation of ground mounted pv panels, an Enemalta switchgear room,  a pv system switchgear and substation rooms. A second phase would see the restoration of the remaining portions following exhaustion and backfilling of neighbouring quarries, the application reads.

The Environment and Resources Authority said that the proposal falls within the scope of Schedule I, Category II, Section 9.0.2.3 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, "thus the submission of a Project Description Statement (PDS) is required." ERA will be in a position to assess and provide further comments on receipt of the said PDS, it wrote.