A valley’s ecology and ridge vistas damaged as imposing blocks of flats with pools rise on ridges

Right across the valley from a swimming pool granted permit last week in Xaghra, which has caused an outrage, another similar pool at the back of another block of flats was approved three years ago to the same developers (who are Joseph Portelli and his partners who own Excel Investments Limited).  

Permit for that pool was also granted in fragmentary planning process that, in that case, consisted of two applications. The initial permit was for a block of flats – called Hal Eghzien and consisting of 21 flats – and a “water feature” in the garden outback. This initial permit was granted despite recommendation for refusal by the case officer, mostly because it spilled over Outside Development Zone. This was then changed to a “communal pool” in a later permit. 

Although the pool at Hal Eghzien is less impactful than the pool granted permit last week – where the slope is steeper and the ridge well defined – it is symptomatic of a modus operandi that has become common in the past few years: a fragmented planning process that produces an end result that would have probably been refused if put in a single application in the beginning.

There is also a third block of flats in the inner mouth of the valley with pool outback, this third one belonging to Ta Karkanja, another Gozitan developer. In that case, the initial permit – for seven houses with pools – was granted in 2004. It was then modified a few times, with the end result becoming 19 flats and a pool.

It’s a sign of where the real estate market in Gozo has gone: it’s flats, not houses, that are mostly sought-after by Malta-based residents who seek weekend pads in Gozo.

Such flats with communal swimming pools are being snapped up by Malta-based residents who buy flats to spend fair-weather weekends in Gozo, and in that sense they function like something akin to aparthotels.

At Wied L-Eghzien, as the lush valley in Xaghra is called, the impact of these blocks of flats with the pools outback is multi-pronged. There is the impact on the ridge vista – these blocks add dense urban forms or elements that impose themselves on the ridge – as well as the impact on the ecology of the valley.  

This website consulted with a naturalist on the maquis. 

The naturalist, who preferred to remain unnamed, analysed the flora behind the block of flats called The Valley, which is where the permit for swimming pool was granted last week. He made a list of the species of flora in the lush maquis habitat that are being destroyed by pools below the ridge.

Species marked on picture above:

• Ceratonia siliqua; carob tree (harruba). Protected in ODZ, need ERA permit to cut down.
• Olea europaea; olive tree (zebbuga). Protected in ODZ, need ERA permit to cut down.
• Prunus dulcis; almond tree (lewza). Protected in ODZ, need ERA permit to cut down.
• Euphorbia melitensis; Maltese splurge (tenghud ta’ Malta); strictly protected
• Ferula melitensis, giant fennel; endemic yet very common.

He also talked about the light and noise pollution. The light pollution for example is devastating to moths. And the blocks of flats with their terrace lights and pool lights create light pollution that would cumulatively, according to the naturalist, impact the already-diminished population of moths and other insects in Gozo. Farmers at Wied L-Eghzien have confirmed to this website that the population of moths in the valley has been diminishing.