Lorry Sant’s home could make way for six villas

The wife of former Labour works minister Lorry Sant has requested a planning permit to demolish her Marsaskala seafront villa, to make way for six semi-detached villas with common pool-and-BBQ area.

The villa overlooks the salt pens of Marsaskala and is within the development zone, but a substantial part lies in a ‘safeguarded area’ which, according to the local plan, should be limited to the upgrade of public recreation facilities such as children’s play areas of landscaped seating areas for the public.

The ‘safeguarded area’ presently includes a large pond where the late politician used to keep ducks, as well as three small structures.
The local plan stipulates that wherever buildings are present on these sites the PA can only consider the upgrading and improvement of such buildings, particularly for uses compatible with recreational provision “provided that there is no increase in the built-up footprint”.

The Environment and Resources Authority expressed “no particular environmental concerns” and made no reference to the safeguarded area. But since the proposed works will take place next to the salt pens it is insisting that all the works towards the periphery wall must be carried out diligently and that no encroachment beyond the existing site into the Salini takes place.  

The Marsaskala local council is not objecting as long as the coastal area protected by the public domain act, is not impacted.