Qrendi residents object to rezoning of agricultural land near town square

A residents’ group in Qrendi has expressed its concern over a rezoning application that will make it possible to build a five-storey block behind the town’s school. 

The application – PC/00059/20 - seeks to “establish planning parameters to be identical to the surrounding land use and height limitation as established in the Qrendi local plan.” 

The applicant, developer Michael Bugeja on behalf Tan-Nadur Limited, is also proposing new building alignments and the construction of a new street at Triq il-Kurat Mizzi & Triq l-Iskola. 

Bugeja is also proposing to restore an old farmhouse on the affected plot.

Għaqda Residenti Tal-Qrendi, which is objecting to the application together with NGO Il-Kollettiv, said a five-storey building would uglify the road leading to the town, as well as its square.  

“This application will create a negative precedent, since a number of nearby plots are also waiting for permission to build five storeys. If this happens, the picturesque village of Qrendi will be unrecognisable, and pressure will increase on a region that is facing an ongoing siege of construction that has also hit Zurrieq, Imqabba and Ħal Safi,” the group wrote. 

Objectors have until Wednesday to submit their objections. 

The site of the proposed rezoning. Photo: Planning Authority.

At the time of writing, the application had received around 130 objections.  

“I think they’ve choked us enough with buildings...We want clean air. We already have a parking problem and you will destroy us,” one objector wrote.  

The application was originally submitted in 2020, but was re-issued for public consultation in July. 

The same applicant and architect are behind the application PA 2441/25 at 28, Triq il-Buskett, Rabat, which proposes to demolish a farmhouse and excavate adjacent fields to develop a five-storey block of 30 apartments, 10 penthouses, 9 maisonettes, a retail shop, and two basement levels for 83 garages.