Environmentalists camped outside the Planning Authority say the PA is
intentionally dragging its feet on the long-promised Fuel Stations Policy Review. So what has happened in the 15 months since it was announced? 

Four new fuel station applications have been submitted for land outside development zones since a revision of the controversial Fuel Stations Policy was announced in January 2018, planning records show.

But in that time, the tide seems to have turned against developers: although ODZ applications have continued to be heard under the existing policy, six have been rejected by the Planning Authority or withdrawn by applicants, while two have been approved.

The new applications, meanwhile, appear to be stalling. These include ODZ fuel stations in Bulebel, already rejected by the PA, as well as Marsascala, Attard and Birżebbuġa, two of which have been suspended by the applicant while the last is still being screened.

The Fuel Stations Policy was introduced in 2005

Another application for a major extension of an existing fuel station in Marsascala – approved just five months earlier – has also been suspended.

Applications submitted since the review was announced will not be subjected to any eventual new policy, which is expected to be more restrictive.

Were they all to be reactivated and accepted by the PA, the amount of ODZ land already committed to approved fuel stations – currently around 15,000 square metres, or more than two football pitches – would nearly double.

The Fuel Stations Policy was introduced in 2015 and allowed small kerbside facilities to relocate to ODZ land with a maximum footprint of 3,000 square metres, as well as permitting entirely new facilities in rural areas.

Since its introduction, the PA has approved five ODZ fuel stations in Luqa, Burmarrad, Marsascala, Magħtab and Mġarr, the last a renewal of an earlier permit.

The policy review called by Environment Minister José Herrera is intended to lessen the burden on agricultural land, and proposals by the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) included a ban on all new and relocated ODZ stations, as well as a reduced maximum size of 2,000 square metres.

However, recent indications are that these proposals – submitted by ERA to the PA executive council back in April 2018 – are unlikely to be implemented in their current form.

Planning Minister Ian Borg told the Sunday Times of Malta in an interview in February that the ban may apply only to entirely new facilities, meaning the new policy would still allow relocated fuel stations on ODZ land.

Dr Herrera, under whose remit ERA falls, appeared to confirm this later, admitting to a lack of agreement with Dr Borg over the issue, and saying that should ODZ relocations continue to be allowed, the footprint would be much smaller than before, and that restrictions would be tightened.

Since the review was announced in January 2018…

Two ODZ fuel stations have been approved
Three ODZ fuel stations have been rejected
Three ODZ applications have been withdrawn

and as things stand...

Five ODZ fuel stations have been approved since 2015
Two ODZ applications remain pending
Four ODZ applications are currently suspended

(Note: two more applications could no longer be traced on the PA server)