PROJECT DESCRIPTION STATEMENT
Sanctioning of batching plant and manufacturing of precast concrete elements, warehouse, landscaping including pool, workers rest rooms, basement and kitchen as built over PA 06516/06. Change of use of cloakroom into workers canteen, workers rest room into storage room. Construction of additional floor over workers rest rooms at Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq PA 03389/18
Dr. Joe A. Doublet Ph.D. (Wales)
Applicant
John Micallef
Architect
Perit Mannie Galea B.E.&A. (Hons), A. & C.E.
May 2019
PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
The Project Description Statement is prepared in accordance with the Terms of
Reference as found in Section 12 and Schedule II of the Environmental Impact
Assessment Regulations, 2017, S.L. 549.46, a copy of which is found in
Appendix I.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Declaration
The information about the proposal has been supplied by the applicant and his architect and the author has verified to the best of his ability that such information is correct.
Dr J A Doublet
21st May 2019
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq Table of Contents 1 Introduction ...... 6 1.1 PDS...... 7 1.2 Details of Applicant ...... 7 2 Description of Site ...... 8 2.1 Planning History of Site ...... 12 J Micallef Group site ...... 12 2.2 Surrounding Land Uses ...... 14 2.3 Policy considerations...... 17 3 Proposed Development ...... 21 4 Justification ...... 33 5 Environmental Impacts ...... 38
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq List of Figures Figure 1: Cypress trees lining Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Ghaxaq ...... 9 Figure 2: Cypress trees in front of RockCut limited...... 9 Figure 3: Areas of Containment for industrial and commercial usage found in South Malta Local Plan (MEPA 2006)...... 10 Figure 4: Existing block plan of Scheme...... 11 Figure 5: Land uses excluding agricultural land around a 250m radius range from the area of containment (shaded green)...... 15 Figure 6: Environmental Constraints map surrounding the Scheme (red polygon) as found in the South Malta Local Plan ...... 16 Figure 7: Proposed Master Plan for containment area...... 22 Figure 8: Approved and existing Ground floor plans for PA 03389/18 ...... 23 Figure 9: Approved and existing Basement plans for PA 03389/18 ...... 24 Figure 10: Approved and existing plans for PA 03389/18 ...... 25 Figure 11: Approved Elevations and Sections of Block A for PA 03389/18 ...... 26 Figure 12: Existing Plans, Elevations and Sections of Block A for PA 03389/18 ...... 27 Figure 13: Approved and Proposed Sections for PA 03389/18 ...... 28 Figure 14: As Approved/ As Built Elevations and pool Section for PA 03389/18 ...... 29 Figure 15: As Approved/As Built Pond Section for PA 03389/18 ...... 30 Figure 16: Existing Plans, Elevations and Sections of Block B for PA 03389/18 ...... 31 Figure 17: As Approved/ As Built Elevations and Sections of Block C for PA 03389/18 ..... 32 Figure 18: Open yard at ground level where vehicles and machinery are parked...... 35 Figure 19: Open silos for the storage of aggregate in yard at ground floor level...... 35 Figure 20: Batching plant including aggregate and cement silos and control room...... 36 Figure 21: Pre-fabricated concrete ceiling slabs and mesh used for production stored at basement level...... 36 Figure 22: Pre-fabricated ceiling tables with ceiling slabs awaiting to dry...... 37
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 1 Introduction
The proposal hereinafter referred to as the Scheme is for the Sanctioning of batching plant and manufacturing of precast concrete elements, warehouse, landscaping including pond, workers rest rooms, basement and kitchen as built over PA 6516/06. Change of use of cloakroom into workers canteen, workers restroom into storage room. Construction of additional floor over workers rest rooms.
A parallel application (PA 05788/18) on same site and adjacent one is for the demarcation and establishment of a containment area including designated uses which currently holds a number of buildings occupied by Rockcut Ltd and J Micallef Group.
In a letter dated 31st August 2018 the Environment and Resources Authority, ERA commented on the abovementioned application. In its letter ERA claimed that there was another pending application on site (PA 3389/18) which related to the sanctioning of a batching plant and manufacture of precast concrete elements, warehouse, pool, hostel (class 3A), basement and kitchen as built over PA 6516/06. Change of use of cloakroom into multipurpose hall (class 3A) worker rest in games room (class 3A). The proposal includes the additional floor over hostel. ERA maintained that the application fell under Schedule I, Category II Section 7.12.2 of the EIA Regulations, 2017 and also under Category II Section 9.0.2.4 of the same regulations (Appendix I).
Meanwhile an email sent on the 29th October 2018 from the Planning Authority, PA identified the acceptable uses for the containment area. The PA established that the acceptable uses on site shall be limited to Class 5 and Class 6 and any Class 4 which is ancillary to the main uses. It also stated that the site coverage should not exceed 60% of the total area with the remaining 40% to be used for circulation and landscaping. The perimeter of the site needs to address the visual impact whereas the proposed building height should not exceed 11.4m (Appendix II).
In view of the latter consideration by the PA, applicant requested ERA whether it could waive the need for the PDS but ERA maintained their stand.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq Applicant is therefore amending application PA 03389/ 18 in line with the acceptable uses established by the PA.
1.1 PDS
The proposal falls within the scope of Schedule I, Category II Section 7.12.2 of the EIA
Regulations, 2017 and also under Category II Section 9.0.2.4 of the same regulations and the submission of a Project Description Statement (PDS) in line with the provisions of these regulations is required.
Such a Statement will help the ERA to decide whether there is a need of an Environmental
Impact Assessment, EIA for the Scheme or not. ERA will issue Terms of Reference (ToR) if a decision is taken that there is the need for an EIA.
1.2 Details of Applicant
Name of applicant 1: Mr John Micallef Company: J Micallef Builders Ltd Company registration number: C16975 Address: 4, Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq, GXQ 2281 Tel Numbers: +356 79495020 Email: [email protected]
John Micallef entered the construction industry under the company name of John Micallef
Builders Ltd in 1994 with the launch of a small construction firm capable of handling small projects. However, the company quickly evolved itself and embarked on more modest projects. John Micallef Builders Limited forms part of a group of companies based in Malta.
This group is mainly engaged in providing construction services and property development. It also owns and operates two service stations; one in a centrally located part of the island and one in the south part of the island.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 2 Description of Site
The proposed site has an area of 3555m2 and consists of (Figure 4).
An office block overlying;
An underground parking area;
A batching plant and aggregate storage area;
Parking area for heavy vehicles and trailers;
Office/hall area;
Large pond/pool;
Offices.
The adjacent Rockcut yard (9011m2) consists of:
A stockpiling area;
Parking area for heavy vehicles
Security room
Storage/ garage areas;
Office space.
The office blocks of both companies are over two floors. The pavement along the front of both companies is lined with cypress trees (Figure 1 and Figure 2).
The South Malta Local Plan indicated the area occupied by both companies as an Area of
Containment (Map AC 4) (Figure 3).
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 1: Cypress trees lining Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Ghaxaq
Figure 2: Cypress trees in front of RockCut limited.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 3: Areas of Containment for industrial and commercial usage found in South Malta Local Plan (MEPA 2006) PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 4: Existing block plan of Scheme.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 2.1 Planning History of Site
Both sites found in the containment area have a long planning history of planning applications and enforcements, some of which have been sanctioned while others are still pending. A review of the ones pertaining to application under consideration is given below.
J Micallef Group site:
The first indications of construction activity on the site date back to 1998 where two enforcement orders were issued. EC 00242/98 concerned the removal of topsoil without a permit, while EC 01013/98 concerned the change of use from field to parking of vehicles.
Both were sanctioned by PA 5511/01 for the construction of garages for parking of plant machinery including workshops, construction of offices and workers area, formation of open parking area, landscaping and sanctioning. This application was approved on October 2005.
PA 7458/05 was for the construction of basement garages for parking of plant machinery and workers vehicles. This was approved in March 2006. Another application (PA 6516/06) was submitted for the extension to basement garage and ground floor garage for parking of plant machinery and worker’s vehicles, the latter being approved in November 2007.
EC 00221/17 is an enforcement on site for the construction of illegal development consisting of an operational batching plant and other various illegal structures built without permits.
The enforcement is still on but two planning applications have been submitted, one of which is to sanction this enforcement. PA 5778/18 is a joint outline application between J Micallef
Group and Rockcut Ltd to establish the building height and layout for containment area.
Another application, PA 3389/18 is for the sanctioning of batching plant and manufacture of precast concrete elements, warehouses, pool, hostel (Class 3A), basement and kitchen as built over PA 6516/06. Change of use of cloakroom into multipurpose hall (Class 3A),
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq workers restroom into games room (Class 3A). Construction of additional floor over hostel.
The latter two applications are still pending. The title of the latter application was changed to
Sanctioning of batching plant and manufacturing of precast concrete elements, warehouse, landscaping including pond, workers rest rooms, basement and kitchen as built over PA
6516/06. Change of use of cloakroom into workers canteen, Worker restroom into storage room. Construction of additional workers rest rooms.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 2.2 Surrounding Land Uses
The proposed area of containment is located in an area known as Tal-Iklin and lies just at the periphery of the village of Għaxaq. PA 03389/18 is the smaller section found on the western side adjacent to the Rock Cut area which is on the eastern part. Triq iċ-Ċimiterju bears its name from the village cemetery found at the end of the street less than a 100m from the proposed Scheme. The immediate surroundings consist mainly of agricultural fields. The dwellings at the periphery of the village are found along Triq Joseph Gravina which is parallel to Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, the only barrier between the two streets being a stretch of agricultural fields barely 50m wide. Adjacent to the cemetery, along the western edge of the
Scheme there is a field and the next large area consists of an animal farm which the entrance of which is found on Triq Joseph Gravina. Prior to reaching the entrance there are two small blocks of small garages. The eastern side consists mainly of fields with the exceptions of a storage area found alongside Triq il-Belt Valletta and another one between some fields.
Agricultural fields are the main component of the landscape towards the northern side of the scheme. All the surrounding agricultural fields are marked as Agricultural Areas (awaiting classification of agricultural value) – SMAG 01 on the Environmental Constraints Map of the
South Malta Local Plan.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 5: Land uses excluding agricultural land around a 250m radius range from the area of containment (shaded green).
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 6: Environmental Constraints map surrounding the Scheme (red polygon) as found in the South Malta Local Plan
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 2.3 Policy considerations
The South Malta Local Plan has designated the site as an Area of Containment. Policy
SMCM 05 states that:
MEPA designates the following Areas of Containment within which permitted development will be carried out strictly within the designated boundaries as indicated in the relevant Inset Maps.
Tal-Bandieri, Triq il-Belt Valletta Luqa Map AC 1 Triq l-Industrija Kirkop Map AC 1 Triq Valletta Mqabba Map AC 1 Triq Valletta Zurrieq Map AC 1 Mdina Road Zebbug Map AC 2 Triq Hal Farrug Siggiewi Map AC 2 Triq is-Siggiewi Qrendi Map AC 3 Mdina Road (Ta’ Srina) Zebbug Map AC 3 Triq il-Mina ta’ Hompesch Zabbar Map AC 3 Notabile Road Zebbug Map AC 3 Triq ic-Cimiterju Ghaxaq Map AC 4 Tal-Barrani Road Ghaxaq Map AC 4 Triq Tal-Barrani Zejtun/Ghaxaq Map AC 4 Triq Birzebbuga Ghaxaq Map AC 4 Triq San Leonardo Zabbar Map AC 5
Following the approval of this plan MEPA will on a case by case basis review industrial and commercial operations within such areas of containment, identifying acceptable operations within such areas together with required road layouts. Mitigation measures are to be implemented on the selected sites to reduce negative impacts in the form of comprehensive schemes to upgrade the visual elements of these areas, which would include landscaping and other embellishment measures, as well as the provision of adequate common parking areas. Pending the finalization of this review MEPA will only consider the change of use and/or minor alterations to existing buildings within the designated Areas of Containment provided that all the following conditions are adhered to; 1. The use of the proposed development will be similar to any use already existing and permitted within the Area of Containment. However, if the proposed use is not considered to be desirable, then MEPA will consider a more acceptable alternative use; 2. Compliance with any required mitigation measures that may be identified during the assessment process of the proposed development; 3. In cases of redevelopment or new development in sites fronting arterial roads or approaches to settlements a buffer of at least 8 metres from the road alignment is to be provided. 3. It is demonstrated to the satisfaction of MEPA that no deleterious impacts will result from the proposed development on existing uses in the vicinity of the site; and 4. Particular attention will be given to the design of the proposed development so as to ensure that no adverse visual impacts are created.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq Meanwhile in email dated 29th October 2018 (Appendix II) the Planning Authority established the acceptable uses for the containment area. The PA established that the acceptable uses on site shall be limited to Class 5 and Class 6 and any Class 4 which is ancillary to the main uses.
This implies that the following uses would be acceptable within this containment area: CATEGORY E - INDUSTRIAL USES CLASS 5A - Light Industry Use for any of the following: (a) research, testing and development of products or processes; (b)craft business; (c) any other light industry not falling under Class 5C, provided that, if any such use is carried out in residential area, in the opinion of the Authority: (i) it can be carried out without detriment to the amenity of that area by reason of noise, vibrations, smell, fumes, smoke, soot, ash, dust, grit, or visual impact; and (ii) it does not generate a disproportionate vehicular traffic or parking which is detrimental to the amenity of the area in which it is conducted; and (iii) it does not result in a significant increase in the number of employees previously engaged in the former use.
CLASS 5B - General Industry Use for the carrying on of an industrial process not contemplated by Class 5A or Class 5C.
CLASS 5C - Specialised Industry Any specialised industrial process for any of the following use: (a) smelting, calcining, sintering or reducing ores, minerals, concentrates or mattes; (b) converting, refining, reheating, annealing, hardening, melting, carburising, forging, or casting metals or alloys other than pressure die-casting; (c) recovering of metal from scrap, drosses or ashes; (d) galvanising; (e) pickling or treating metal in acid; (f) chromium plating; (g) burning lime or dolomite; (h) producing zinc oxide, cement or alumina; (i) foaming, crushing, screening or heating mineral or slag; (j) processing pulverised fuel ash by heat; (k) producing carbonate of lime or hydrated lime; (l) producing inorganic pigments by calcining, roasting or grinding, except where the above processes are ancillary to the getting, dressing or treatment of minerals and undertaking in or adjacent to a quarry or mine; (m) distilling, refining, or blending oils (other than petroleum or petroleum products); (n) producing or using cellulose or using other pressure sprayed metal finishes (other than in vehicle repair workshops in connection with minor repairs, or application of plastic powder by the use of fluidised bed and electrostatic spray techniques); (o) boiling linseed oil or running gum; (p) processes involving the use of hot pitch or bitumen in the manufacture of roofing felt at temperatures not exceeding 220ºC or the manufacture of coated roadstone; (q) stoving enameled ware;
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq (r) producing aliphatic esters of the lower fatty acids, butyric acid, caramel, hexamine, iodoform, naphthols, resin products (excluding plastic moulding or extrusion operations and producing plastic sheets, rods, tubes, filaments, fibres or optical components produced by casting, calenering, moulding, shaping or extrusion), salicylic acid or sulphonated organic compounds; (s) producing rubber from scrap; (t) chemical processes in which chlorophenols or chlorocresols are used as intermediates; (u) manufacturing acetylene from calcium carbide; (v) manufacturing, recovering, or using pyridine or picolines, any methyl or ethyl amine, or acrylates; (w) the carrying on of an industrial process which uses animal remains as the primary input or as part of the process of manufacture.
CATEGORY F - STORAGE AND BOATHOUSE USES CLASS 6A - Storage and Distribution Use for storage (other than the storage, on land or on water, of boats) or as a distribution centre.
CLASS 6B - Boatyards Use for any of the following: (a) storing boats (other than in a marina); (b) boat building; (c) boat repair and servicing.
CATEGORY D - COMMERCIAL USES CLASS 4A - Financial, Professional and Other Offices Use for any of the following: (a) financial services; (b) professional services (including doctors, lawyers, dentists); (c) any other offices of a comparable nature.
CLASS 4B - Retail Use for any of the following: (a) retail outlets; (b) display for sale of goods excluding motor vehicles.
CLASS 4C - Food and Drink Establishments where no cooking is allowed Use for establishments catering for the preparation and sale of hot or cold food or drink for consumption on the premises where no cooking is allowed.
CLASS 4D - Food and Drink Establishments where cooking is allowed Use for establishments catering for the preparation and sale of hot or cold food or drink for consumption on the premises where cooking is allowed.
Policy SMAG 01 concerning the protection of agricultural land states that:
MEPA will continue to protect agricultural land from all types of inappropriate development. Within Agricultural Areas, as indicated on the relevant Environmental Constraints Maps, only buildings, structures and uses essential to the needs of agriculture will be permitted and then only if it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of MEPA that they will not adversely affect water supplies, soil and landscape, and accord with all other policies within this Local Plan. Applications for development permission for agricultural related developments which will result in the subdivision of land holdings, will not be permitted.
This will also apply to other land being cultivated for agricultural use and which in the opinion of
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq MEPA (after consultation with the Department of Agriculture) has a realistic potential to be upgraded and sustainably improve its productivity. (This policy will not apply to such land where it is designated for other purposes in the Local Plan).
Improvements to existing agricultural land and buildings aimed at increased productivity will be favourably considered by MEPA providing they are well designed, efficient and contribute to rather than detract from the quality of the local and surrounding environment.
The present uses on both sites and that proposed for PA 03389/18 fall within those which are acceptable by the Planning Authority. The sites will remain mainly for industrial usage
(Classes 5 & 6) and ancillary facilities to these classes (Class 4).
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 3 Proposed Development
The Scheme will not have any major changes from what is found on site today. The current footprint and uses will be retained. The existing rest rooms will be raised by an additional floor which would be about 2m higher than the adjacent building.
In view of the fact that currently some of the development on site is not in accordance with the permits issued, there are a number of pending applications for the sanctioning and additions to existing development. These changes consist mainly of additional workers restrooms, change of use of cloakroom into a canteen and also the construction of additional workers restrooms. Furthermore a batching plant for the manufacture of precast elements found in the basement of the J Micallef Group part should also be sanctioned as part of the development (Figure 8 to Figure 17).
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 7: Proposed Master Plan for containment area.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 8: Approved and existing Ground floor plans for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 9: Approved and existing Basement plans for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 10: Approved and existing plans for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 11: Approved Elevations and Sections of Block A for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 12: Existing Plans, Elevations and Sections of Block A for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 13: Approved and Proposed Sections for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 14: As Approved/ As Built Elevations and pool Section for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 15: As Approved/As Built Pond Section for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 16: Existing Plans, Elevations and Sections of Block B for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 17: As Approved/ As Built Elevations and Sections of Block C for PA 03389/18
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
4 Justification
The proposed Scheme is found within an Area of Containment policy SMCM 05, usage of which has also been determined by the Planning Authority as per communication found in
Appendix II. The proposed usage remains within the same parameters as established above and so should be acceptable. 60% of the area will be built up while the remaining 40% will remain as open space. The proposed usage should accommodate the existing and future demand for current expansion of activities of both companies and also accommodate other smaller companies within the new buildings on site.
The proposed sanctioning for existing structures on site as per PA 03389/18 also include the addition of 5 workers rest rooms over another 5 existing ones earmarked to be sanctioned.
The proposed sanction and uses for PA 03389/18 are also in line with the acceptable uses found the PA communication.
The company has a diversified portfolio but its core business is that of construction and has utilised the current site for such related purposes since 1998, however it was only in 2001 that an application was made on site for the formalisation of its usage. Most of the current works involving the batching plants take place in the basement level and so reduce impacts at the surface whereas the open areas are only used for storage and metal works. So although a lot of activity is found on site this is making the best used of all the available space limiting the spread of activities.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq The open ground floor area is mainly used for storage of trucks and machinery (Figure 18). A number of segregated open silos also serve as storage for aggregate material used in the basement batching plant (Figure 19). In fact these are replenished from this level.
At basement level one find the batching plant together with a number of large metal tables used to produce pre-fabricated concrete ceilings and other concrete elements. Cement is brought on site and pumped into the underground silo. Aggregate is unloaded at the yard’s silos which are connected to the basement silos. The respective concrete mixture required for the job is mixed from a control room found at basement level and transferred to a concrete mixer where water is added and the concrete mix produce (Figure 20). The batching mixture is transferred into a concrete mixer which is then poured onto the concrete ceiling tables where it is allowed to dry prior to delivery (Figure 21and Figure 22). The same mixers can also deliver concrete offsite to building sites built by same company.
The proposed rest rooms will only be used by foreign workers working with the same company.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 18: Open yard at ground level where vehicles and machinery are parked.
Figure 19: Open silos for the storage of aggregate in yard at ground floor level.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 20: Batching plant including aggregate and cement silos and control room.
Figure 21: Pre-fabricated concrete ceiling slabs and mesh used for production stored at basement level.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Figure 22: Pre-fabricated ceiling tables with ceiling slabs awaiting to dry.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 5 Environmental Impacts
The impacts which would results from the proposed Scheme will be very limited especially when these are compared to ones generated from the current conditions. The latter arise mainly from the generation of dusts from activities related to production of concrete or storage of spalls and rock material. The main cause of such dusts are the re-entrainment of settled dust by wind or machine action and also the release of dust when unloading spalls in the open silos. Good housekeeping should control such dust emissions generated from the sites. Currently there isn’t much evidence which suggests that this is having any impact on the surrounding land uses albeit this cannot be excluded in the future. Noise generated from the site is also limited and there are no complaints from neighbouring users to this effect.
This is mainly due to the fact that the operation of the batching plant is mainly at basement level while the ground floor (street level) is mainly used for storage. The current activities on site do not generate much noise. Traffic impacts are limited to the flow of vehicles visiting both sites and such movement is well spread throughout the day, the highest levels being early in the morning before commencement of activities and at the end of the day when the workers finish their work day. Visual impacts are currently limited to the final part of Triq l-
Belt Valletta before turning to Triq iċ-Ċimiterju. These could increase slightly if the height of existing buildings are bound to increase. The additional storey of the rest rooms shouldn’t have any marked impact since these are just around 2m above existing structures.
The Scheme doesn’t lie above a protected aquifer, however the closest 300m buffer is situated about 200m south of the front of the Scheme so any activities taking place on the
Scheme shouldn’t impact this aquifer. The closest inhabitants lie less than 70 m south of the
Scheme and are separated by a row of fields in between. The activities on the Scheme should
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq not interfere with the lives of the inhabitants due to the current soft landscaping and also the distances involved. Furthermore, the Scheme and the residents are on two different but parallel streets and traffic from the Scheme doesn’t have to use the village roads but can take
Triq il- Belt Valletta onto the main thoroughfare of Tal-Barrani.
The current waste levels produced from the site are not envisaged to change as a result of the proposed changes.
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq
Appendix I
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq Section 12 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, 2017, S.L. 549.46
Schedule II Information to be provided in the Project Description Statement 1. A description of the project, including in particular:
(a) a description of the physical characteristics of the whole project, including size, scale, design and phasing of the project, and covering all construction, demolition and excavation works;
(b) a description of the location of the project, including the site boundaries clearly shown on a map base, with particular regard to the environmental sensitivity of geographical areas likely to be affected;
(c) a description of the envisaged operations and process flow (where this is applicable) identifying the nature of the inputs, throughputs, outputs, and relevant processes; and
(d) ancillary requirements including, but not limited to, access and parking arrangements, and infrastructural services.
2. A description of the aspects of the environment likely to be affected by the project.
3. A description, to the extent enabled by the information available, of any likely effects of the project on the environment resulting from:
(a) changes caused to the site;
(b) the expected residues and emissions and the production of waste, where relevant; and
(b) the use of natural resources, in particular soil, land, water and biodiversity.
The criteria of Schedule III shall be taken into account, as relevant, when compiling the information in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 3 hereof.
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Appendix II
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PDS to sanction building structures within area of containment area Triq iċ-Ċimiterju, Għaxaq 5788/18 Salvatore Demartino
Kindly not that the application ion caption has been discussed at the Planning Directorate Advisory Team and it has been concluded that:
The range of proposed uses shall be limited to Class 5 and Class 6 and any Class 4 shall be ancillary to the main uses.
The proposed layout is not a good example of urban design for a quality industrial/warehousing complex, particularly the access points and internal road layouts.
Site coverage should not exceed 60% of the total site area with the remaining 40% to be used for circulation and landscaping.
Treatment of the perimeter of the site needs to be included to mitigate the visual impact.
The overall height of proposed buildings should not exceed 11.4m.
Thanks Salvatore De Martino Salvatore Demartino Executive I St Francis Ravelin, Floriana, FRN 1230, Malta ( 2290 1039 | * [email protected] www.pa.org.mt P Think before you print! Consider the environment before printing this e-mail. This message may contain confidential information and is intended solely for the individual named. If you are not the intended recipient you should not disseminate, distribute or copy the contents of this e-mail. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately and permanently destroy both the message and its contents. The security, reliability of delivery and integrity of this e-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed as information could be modified in transit or may contain viruses. Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Planning Authority. To the extent permitted by law, Planning Authority will not accept any liability arising
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