Pig farm makes way for villa with pool

The Planning Authority has approved the transformation of a pig farm which ceased operations in 1978 into a villa with pool, despite the contrary advice of the case officer and the Environment Resources Authority.

The permit issued in the picturesque Tal-Landrijiet area in Rabat, designated as an Area of High Landscape Value, was issued on the basis of a planning policy which permits the redevelopment of livestock farms which have ceased operation for at least 10 years.

But the same policy also states that “a permit will only be issued if the building is creating a negative environmental impact on the site and its surroundings”.

The case officer had insisted that no such negative impact was being created by the disused pig farm.

In its justification the Environment Planning Commission noted that this proposal is compliant with the policy because the farm stopped operating in 1978.

But the case officer noted that the existing structure “blends well with the rural landscape” and does not create any negative impact on the site, a claim disputed by the project’s architect. The proposal entails an increase of 70m2 (from 120m2 to 190m2) in the floor area of the existing building and an additional 75m2 swimming pool area.

Two vernacular rooms occupying a floor area of 50m2 are being retained and the owner will have to plant 18 trees to landscape the area. 

The case officer who insisted that the policy could only be applied in the case of livestock farms with a negative impact on the environment concluded that the swimming pool could only be considered if the residential use of the former farm was established. Therefore he also objected to the swimming pool being constructed. The Environment Resources Authority also objected.