MEPA Watch | Sunday, 24 January 2010

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Robert Musumeci’s analysis of MEPA decisions

Two weeks ago, it was reported in the local media that a limited liability company signed an agreement to start holding fairs at the disused Naxxar Trade Fair grounds once again.
The Naxxar grounds used to host trade fairs and exhibitions regularly until 2007, following which date, the annual fair was transferred to the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre in Ta’ Qali.
The Naxxar grounds fall under the provisions of the Central Malta Local Plan. Way back in 2006, the said Plan established a number of planning criteria in order to regulate the future of this location. These criteria emerged following an outline application to redevelop the former Malta Trade Fair grounds into a residential, commercial and mixed development, which was submitted by a certain Vincent Curmi in the year 2004 (this application is still pending before MEPA).
The Plan underlined that in the event that the Trade Fair was to be relocated on a new site (eventually the Trade Fair was in fact transferred to the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre in Ta’ Qali), the redevelopment of the Naxxar complex was possible on condition that the new development features a high quality residential neighbourhood, with a distinctive character and identity.
Indeed, this rationale is supported by Central Malta Local Plan Policy NA02, which provides that MEPA will no longer permit the continued use of the Naxxar buildings as a Trade Fair. As already stated, the said policy highlights that the entire site should be redeveloped into high quality residential development, including a Community Centre which is to be located towards the westernmost part of the site.
Furthermore, the Local Plan stipulates that the axial central walkway route should be retained and upgraded while an underground car park should be provided to serve the new residential developments.
It is acknowledged that access to this area is poor and modifications are necessary in order to increase the junction capacity. To this end, the Local Plan suggests that the roads in the area are planned in a comprehensive manner (namely Triq San Pawl and Triq il-Markiz Scicluna) and redesigned with a view to allow the construction of a roundabout and a direct link road to serve the site.
Against this background, it is significant to highlight that according to Central Malta Local Plan Policy NA02, the continued use of this site as a Trade Fair is no longer possible due to the fact that the Malta Trade Fair activity had ceased operating on this site and moved elsewhere in the last years. In other words, the reinstatement of the former use at Naxxar necessitates that the pending outline application is withdrawn and a submission of a fresh development application submitted with a view to reactivate the use of the former Trade Fair operations.
Nonetheless, this planning application cannot be approved unless the Central Malta Local Plan is modified to the effect that the reinstatement of the Naxxar site as a trade fair is possible without any other material restrictions.

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