President of the Żejtun Labour Party Committee Brian Scicluna gave a strong warning over a proposed development in the village's historic core, describing a plan for 45 garages and around ten apartments within the UCA as "brazen overdevelopment" that threatens Malta's cultural heritage.

In a Facebook post Thursday, Scicluna raised alarm over what he described as a renewed wave of overdevelopment targeting Malta's historic village cores, warning that greed has now "set its eyes on our historic centres" after years of pressure on agricultural land and terraced-house zones.

Scicluna referenced to recent controversies in the Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs) of Tarxien and Żabbar, praising both local councils for opposing proposals that he said undermine sustainability and the character of traditional centres.

He said that in Tarxien, a developer proposed 12 apartments in the heart of the UCA while attempting to bypass regulations by placing the main doorway on a side street outside the designated zone.

In Żabbar, he said that residents and activists recently held a protest against what he described as an excessive development for a residential home for the elderly in the locality's historic core.

Scicluna said Żejtun is now facing a similar threat, with a proposed project for 45 garages and around ten apartments in its own UCA.

He said that while the developers claim they intend to preserve the existing façades, he argued that this does not protect the true character of the area.

"The character of the UCA is not just the façade. Leaving a shell and building a monster behind it is brazen overdevelopment," Scicluna said.

He criticised what he called a pattern of exploiting legal loopholes to maximise profit within protected zones.

Scicluna said that instead of designing buildings that complement the historic environment, some developers focus on finding ways to get around the law so they can "squeeze out as much as possible."

"The Żejtun proposal is another insult, not only to Żejtun but to all UCAs in Malta," Scicluna said, arguing that 45 garages are incompatible with the historic environment and that the proposed intensity runs counter to conservation principles and Malta's Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED), which calls for the protection of traditional streetscapes and historic fabrics.

Scicluna expressed admiration for residents, organisations and public figures in Tarxien and Żabbar who have spoken out against similar proposals, adding that he hopes the same civic mobilisation will occur in Żejtun.

He urged the Planning Authority to heed the advice of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage and refuse the application.

In a comment replying to the post, Zejtun Mayor Joan Agius said that the Local Council has also submitted its objections.