Environmental impacts due to development control decisions in outside development zone

Abstract

The idea of this dissertation was born after a working experience in the Planning Authority's Development Control Unit (D.C.U.). The D.C.U's main function is to issue development permits and one of the branches of the development types is that in the Outside Development Zone (O.D.Z). The O.D.Z, according to the Schemes are areas in which according to the Structure Plan Policies no urban development is allowed with the exceptions of development that are important for agricultural needs. The area of study was chosen due to the experience I had in the D.C.U after discovering a site Outside Development Zone in which it was developed piecemeal and it is said that the development is illegal. The area which is a stretch of land between two villages Zebbug and Qormi contained is illegally developed into garages, warehouses and stores that according to certain policies of the Structure Plan are not allowed to occur in a rural area. The study is to analyze the applications existing in this area, view the relative applications, the decision taken by the Planning Officer and the recommendation given by the Development Control Commission. It is mostly important to compare the date of the issue of the permit with the existing policies to determine if the permit was issued under certain conditions or refused due to conform with policies of that era. The scope of the dissertation is to prove that the development is illegal, and has therefore left adverse impacts on the surrounding environment. In planning terms suggestions are given to improve the situation and therefore there will be mitigation measures and thus the environment will be protected.