Moviment Graffitti is calling on the Planning Authority (PA) to immediately demolish the so-called "sheep farm" in Bidnija, after the Court definitively confirmed the revocation of its permit last week.

This enormous illegal building, with its several floors, reception areas and swimming pool, stands in the untouched Bidnija valley, a rural area that lies entirely Outside the Development Zone (ODZ) and contains freshwater habitats of ecological importance, the NGO said.

Moviment Graffitti and Din l-Art Ħelwa had submitted, in 2023, a request for the revocation of the permit issued by the PA. Although this request was accepted, the PA ordered that the application be reprocessed rather than definitively cancelled.

An appeal was therefore filed before the Tribunal, insisting that once the PA had revoked the permit, it could not order the application to be processed again. We also insisted that additional grounds for revocation had to be taken into account - in particular, the fact that the site's scheduled status had not been indicated on the relevant forms.

The Tribunal agreed with the organisations and ruled that the permit should be definitively revoked on the grounds set out in the appeal.

The applicant then appealed the decision before the courts, which confirmed that the organisations were right and that the permit had therefore been definitively cancelled, the NGO said.

The applicant subsequently filed an application for a retrial, arguing that the Court of Appeal's decision was vitiated by an incorrect application of the law - an argument that the Judge categorically rejected in a ruling delivered last week.

This means that this massive structure, built in a sensitive valley, is now totally and definitively illegal. It must be removed, and the site restored, as far as possible, to its natural state.

Our efforts will continue until this illegal building is demolished. "We also warn the PA that any attempt to change the current regulations or sanction the building through backdoor manoeuvres will be met with fierce resistance from all those who treasure our natural and agricultural heritage," the NGO said.