The Planning Authority has imposed stricter conditions on a proposed development in Qrendi, limiting building heights, requiring part of the site to remain green and introducing additional safeguards to protect archaeological remains and views towards the village church.The authority’s Executive Council has postponed its decision on planning application PC/59/20 for six weeks, giving the applicant time to submit revised plans addressing a series of planning, environmental and visual concerns.Importantly, the decision does not mean the development has been approved, with the applicant now required to make changes before the proposal can be reconsidered.Among the main conditions imposed is a maximum building height of 118.5 metres above mean sea level, equivalent to the height of an existing school building on the site.This means any proposed development must remain within that absolute height limit, preventing new structures from rising above the established level of the school.The authority has also directed that the area designated for development must not contain sections narrower than three metres, while the remaining land must be retained as green space.Any development within the designated building area will also be restricted to residential use.Another major consideration involves the site’s archaeological sensitivity, with the Planning Authority requiring an archaeological study to be completed before any construction works can begin.The study is intended to ensure that any archaeological features or remains are properly investigated and taken into account before development proceeds.The revised plans must also take into consideration the surrounding environment, particularly the visual impact of the proposed buildings on views towards Qrendi’s church.The authority stressed that the layout, height and overall size of the development must be designed to blend more appropriately with the surrounding area while safeguarding important views from the rear of the site.During its assessment, the Executive Council used the Planning Authority’s latest GeoMaps technology to examine how the proposed development would appear from different viewpoints.This allowed council members to evaluate the potential impact of the buildings on the surrounding landscape, including their relationship with the existing school and the village church.The conditions are intended to reduce the development’s overall footprint, preserve green areas and ensure that any future construction respects the character of its surroundings.The applicant now has six weeks to submit updated drawings incorporating all the required changes.Should the revised plans fail to be submitted within the stipulated deadline, the application will be refused.Once the updated proposal is received, the Planning Authority will reconsider the application in light of the new restrictions and safeguards.What do you make of the proposed development restrictions in Qrendi?•