Dun Karm Bypass ODZ supermarket application withdrawn

A planning application to build a supermarket on land outside the development zone (ODZ) along the Dun Karm Bypass in Birkirkara have been withdrawn by the applicant.

The plans, submitted in 2022, would have seen the construction of a 4060 sqm building housing a supermarket and offices.

The project had attracted criticism early last year, with Transport Malta calling on the need for a traffic impact assessment while asserting that congestion on the busy thoroughfare would likely get worse if it goes through.

The transport regulator also stated its reservations on account of P14 of the Development Control Guidelines of 2015, which state that “no direct vehicular access will be allowed onto, or out of, arterial or distributor roads, unless such access is authorised by such authority͘”.

The original applicant was Jason Pace, but the Planning Authority’s website lists Charlene Sciberras as the current applicant.

The application for the Birkirkara supermarket was withdrawn just a day before another application for an ODZ supermarket, this time in San Ġwann, was also withdrawn.

The San Ġwann supermarket was also initially applied for by Jason Pace, but the applicant had changed to Meleney Gauci before it was withdrawn.

Both applications were submitted by architecte firm JG Periti.