Gozitan activist Luke Said raises alarm over development in Gozo

Gozitan activist and PN candidate and activist Luke Said has raised concerns over the scale of development approved in Gozo. Said has claimed that 15,017 new residences have been approved on the island between 2012 and 2026.

In a post on social media, Said said the figure would represent a 60% increase in Gozo’s housing if all the approved residences were eventually built.

Said compared the development approvals with population growth, pointing out that Gozo’s population had increased from around 31,400 in 2013 to 41,800 in 2025, an increase of roughly 33%.

“The problem is not growth. The problem is growth without planning,” Said said. He said the consequences of poor planning were being felt particularly by vulnerable people, including elderly residents and those suffering from health problems.

Said also turned his attention to development outside the development zone, questioning why applications for construction on ODZ land continue to be approved while substantial space remains available within development zones.

He highlighted planning application PA/05649/26, which he said concerns a new house located entirely on ODZ land overlooking the Ramla Valley.

According to Said, the site had previously been the subject of an application for a large garage, with around two-thirds of the proposed development falling within ODZ.

He claimed that the earlier proposal was subsequently altered so that it fell within the development zone and was eventually approved, before a new application was submitted for a house entirely on ODZ land.

“Seriously… do we really have no more spaces where we can build within the development zone?” Said asked.

The Gozitan activist argued that Gozo’s development should be accompanied by investment in infrastructure and stronger planning policies. “Gozo needs proper infrastructure. Gozo needs proper planning…ODZ means ODZ.”