Five-storey housing block proposed on ‘green open space’ in Lija, Balzan

Plans to construct a five-storey residential block on undeveloped land, located on the border of Lija and Balzan, have been filed with the Planning Authority.

Both local councils are objecting to the “massive development” as it is set to take over a “green open space” and overshadow the two-storey houses in the quiet residential area.

“This development, if approved, has the potential to detrimentally impact both the Lija and Balzan localities, lying on the boundary of the two areas,” the councils wrote in a letter addressed to the PA’s chairman.

The site is located between Triq Andrea Zammit, in Lija and Triq Antonio Bosio, in Balzan.

The application for the project titled Ħal-Lija Corner Apartments (PA/4765/25), filed by Joseph Mifsud alongside architect Colin Zammit, plans on excavating the vacant site and developing a five-storey residential block with two levels of underground parking.

Objectors mentioning overshadowing have the same height limitation as this application and overlook the village core!- Colin Zammit

In total, there will be 13 maisonettes at ground level, 42 apartments on the three overlying floors and 12 penthouses on a receded floor. The two-levels of underground parking will accommodate 113 parking spaces.

Speaking to Times of Malta, Zammit said that the building, that will stand 17.5 metres high, does not breach any design policies or the local plans of the area and it does not overshadow the village core.

“Objectors mentioning overshadowing have the same height limitation as this application and overlook the village core! When they potentially apply with same height limitation, the onus will be on them to avoid shadows,” Zammit said.

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage urged the height of the proposed development be lowered to match the height of the buildings in the surrounding area.

The vacant plot of land. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

Representation filed by both councils

Two weeks ago, the Lija and Balzan local councils, jointly, filed a representation “strongly objecting” to the proposed development. The plans have received around 70 representations, so far, from residents.

Last week, the Balzan council posted on Facebook, urging residents to object to the development.

“The block will have an overall height of 17.50m, where the prevailing height on Triq Antonio Bosio and Triq Andrea Zammit is two storey…  The height differential will be significant and the discordant roofscape will have significant visual implications,” the councils said.

The councils raised concerns about how this development will result in the loss of around 2,300 square metres of open space and mature vegetation.

“There will be the loss of the large, mature green space which is an important feature of the townscape and an important contributor to the environmental functioning of the area currently and going into the future,” they said.

The Lija council mentioned how it currently follows a traffic management and urban design plan for Lija, prepared by the University of Malta and architecture firm AP Valletta. The plan aims to limit vehicular traffic and improve pedestrian safety.

The council argued that this development will compromise this plan and, thus, go against the local plan which stresses the importance of keeping traffic to a minimum and not creating an inconvenience for pedestrians.