Shapes Magazine - May 2020 by Planning Authority

A PLANNING AUTHORITY PUBLICATION

NAPPREZZAW IL-WIRT KULTURALI TA' PAJJIŻNA Il-Wirt Kulturali jinkludi wkoll binjiet li jagħmlu parti millistorja u kultura ta' pajjiżna. Minn żmien għal żmien l-Awtorita’ tal-Ippjanar tuża lgħodda tal-iskedar biex tipproteġi u tħares diversi binjiet li għandhom valur arkitettoniku, arkeoloġiku jew ta' inġinerija. F'Malta hawn ‘il fuq minn 3000 propjetà li huma protetti permezz taliskedar. Minn fuq is-sit www.pa.org.mt tista’ tara dawn il-propjetajiet kollha.

PLANNING AUTHORITY

Fl-2007, l-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar skedat 'l fuq minn 69 kabina tat-telefon u kaxxi tal-posta bħala strutturi Grad 2. Dawn il-faċilitajiet li ddaħħlu Malta matul l-Imperu Ingliż ġew protetti għall-inġinerija tagħhom.

A PLANNING AUTHORITY PUBLICATION APRIL-JUNE 2020

FOREWORD

Best design and architecture projects for 2019 awarded

Spatial data can now tell its story on new ‘canvas’

The Planning Authority adapts to working life under COVID-19

Unique open air theatre, urban gardens and office building given protection status

Complaince and enforcement officers get more illegal developments out of the way

PA introduces measures to address impact of COVID-19

New fuel stations policy addressess environmental concerns

OVID-19 came like a flash of lightning on a clear spring day. No one expected this virus to change the way we work and live overnight. We cannot turn the clock back. We need to look ahead and face the economic, financial and social challenges that this pandemic has presented us with. More importantly, we need to build and invest in the opportunities that are a direct result of the situation find ourselves in. We are people of habit. Each day we wake up and carry out the same routine in very much the same way as we did the previous day. One thing we are all learning from this COVID experience is that we can do things differently. Thinking differently, working differently, designing differently, travelling differently are all ways through which we can foster new opportunities to improve the quality of life we aspire to live. A few weeks before the COVID outbreak, the Planning Authority organised the ceremony for the 2019 Malta Architecture and Spatial Planning Awards. This event reminded us that locally we have the talent, competence and determination to develop architectural projects, both small and large, that are weaved together through high-quality design and excellence. We want to be at the forefront to showcase these projects because we believe that these awards are a catalyst for raising the bar of quality design in our country. These awards also remind us that our local profession of planners, architects and interior designers have what it takes to rise up to the challenges and opportunities that the COVID experience presents before us. Spaces which are known to gather a high volume of people such as airports, hotels, hospitals, gyms, and offices will start to evaluate and question whether the ‘normal’ principles of design which served us well in the past, can work in the realities of our future. These are interesting times ahead.

Martin Saliba Executive Chairperson of the Planning Authority

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BEST DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS FOR 2019 AWARDED SOME OF MALTA’S BEST ARCHITECTURAL FIRMS, PERITI AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS WERE RECOGNISED FOR THE WAY THEY SKILFULLY DESIGNED AND CARRIED OUT ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN PROJECTS OVER THE PAST YEAR. WITH SOME SURPRISE WINS, ALONG WITH SOME LOCAL FAVOURITES, THESE WERE THE WINNERS OF THE MASP 2019 AWARDS.

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From top clockwise: Atelier Maison, Bezzina & Cole, Kenneth ZE and Sam Cassar, MODEL, Forward Architects, Studjurban, X,Y,Z Architects.

rchitectural firm MODEL won the award for Restoration and Conservation. Its project comprised a sensitive restoration of a townhouse in Sliema built during the first half of the 20th century in the Art Nouveau style. While intervening in a minimalist manner, the firm gave special attention to the catchment of natural light through a central skylight and skilful use of compatible materials. Within this category, two projects receive a commendation. One went to Dr Edwin Mintoff for the restoration and rehabilitation of the British-period building in Dock Number 1 in Cospicua and another to Perit Kenneth Zammit Endrich and Perit Samuel Cassar for the preservation and conversion of a traditional house in Rabat into a restaurant. The Urban Design Award was won by architectural firm Studjurban for a mixeduse development combining residential units and a child-care

facility at ground floor level in Mosta. The design exploits the prominent corner location and makes a valiant effort to provide an alternative typology for medium-rise housing projects. Gnien Laparelli in Valletta was the winning project for the Public Open Spaces Award. Designed by the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation (GHRC) in collaboration with the Restoration Directorate, the

project successfully resolved the challenge of landscaping the ditch below the entrance to the Capital. The project managed to achieve the right balance between hard and soft landscaping in a dynamic manner that respects the imposing mass of the fortifications that enclose the ditch. Perit Christopher Mintoff received a commendation for the design and implementation of the Paola Regeneration Project.

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SAFEGUARDING

THE VISUAL INTEGRITY OF SCHEDULED BUILDINGS AND MONUMENTS “We commit to be more vigilant when assessing and determining proposed development applications which fall in close proximity to a scheduled building or monument. We believe that each scheduled building is located within a spatial context with which it relates to in diﬀerent aspects. The setting is, therefore, an essential part of the building and how it is experienced. For this reason, the spatial context deserves speciﬁc attention. We have published procedural guidelines spell out how we intend not to compromise our built cultural heritage.” Martin Saliba Chairperson of the Executive Council Planning Authority

PLANNING AUTHORITY M INISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE CHANGE AND PLANNING

1. Vinaccia Restaurant in Rabat by KENNETH ZE AND SAM CASSAR, 2. Printing Facility by BEZZINA&COLE, 3. The Sacred Place ATELIER MAISON, 4. Single family villa in Birguma by FORWARD ARCHITECTS

Architectural firm Bezzina & Cole was named winners of the Commercial Buildings Award for its landmark building project in Ħal Far. The Crane Currency (Malta) building has a distinctive circular entrance which extends into a linear form. The printing press/offices goes well beyond strictly functional requirements and produces a distinctive building that stands out from the surrounding factories. The Interior Architecture Award for Residential Projects was won by architectural firm Forward Architects. The design of the single-family villa in Birguma is a sophisticated one, demonstrating a coherent and sustained philosophy where the attributes of natural light, material tectonics and synergy of various architectural elements are celebrated. A commendation was awarded to Studio Nomad for the conversion of a small compact residence — House 17 in Triq Hilda Tabone, Birgu.

Perit Kenneth Zammit Endrich and Perit Samuel Cassar were the winners of the Interior Architecture Award for Commercial Projects for the interior design of Vinaccia Restaurant in Rabat. While the project celebrates the authenticity and historical memory of an old building, the architects worked with corten-steel material to create a dynamic synergy between the new and the old fabric. Two commendations were awarded in this category. Perit Chris Briffa for his eloquent and sophisticated design for the Rolex Boutique in Valletta and Dr Edwin Mintoff for the interventions within the British-period buildings along Dock No. 1 as the American University of Malta. The Cospicua Social Regeneration Project designed by X,Y,Z Architects and Design was the winner of the Urban Planning Concept Award. The housing project adopts a

sensitive approach to achieving a balance between conservation and rehabilitation objectives and the need to provide an attractive living environment for housing local residents. Ir-Rotta — The Alternative Grid by Perit Daniel Scerri and ‘A garden in the city’ by Studjurban received a commendation. The Award for Hospitality Tourism Accommodation and Leisure was won by Forward Architects for the design of Rosselli Hotel in Valletta. This project sets an example of design excellence and illustrates the creative and sophisticated interior spaces, rehabilitation and re-use of a palatial building in Valletta. Perit Christopher Mintoff for Holm Hotel and Spa project in St Julians and Mizzi Studio for the design of the Serpentine Coffee House in Hyde Park, London were each given a commendation for their respective projects.

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1. All the winners, 2. Cospicua Social Regeneration by X,Y,Z ARCHITECTS, 3. Townhouse in Sliema by MODEL, 4. Rosselli Valletta by FORWARD ARCHITECTS, 5. Mosta by STUDJURBAN, 6. Laparelli Garden by GRAND HARBOUR REGENERATION CORPORATION

Architectural Firm MODEL won the Sustainability Award for the conversion of a townhouse in Sliema. The architects introduced design features that are intended to maximise natural light, ventilation and harvesting of rainwater. The Emerging Architects Award was won by architectural firm Atelier Maison for the design of The Sacred auditorium in Blata

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l-Bajda. The design project is a highly creative and attractive public space which is consistent with a holistic design philosophy. The President’s Award for outstanding achievement for services related to Architecture and Spatial Planning was won by Perit Dr Godwin Cassar. Dr Cassar was instrumental in the late-1980s and 1990s in pioneering

the establishment of the Planning Authority, later to be known as the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). He spearheaded the formulation of a comprehensive Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands, Local Plans and several urban development and regeneration briefs. For more information visit www.maspawards.com

Spatial data can now tell its story on new ‘canvas’

e associate maps with people who like studying or teaching geography. But the reality is that maps are used by a wide array of professions — military personnel, emergency services, delivery services, architects, tourist guides and many more. With the way digital technology has evolved maps have also become an integral part of our daily lives. Maps are not there to only provide us with information but also help us interpret it. Maps are there to tell powerful and engaging stories. When maps tell stories, they turn information into knowledge and understanding. But for such stories to be communicated effectively there needs to be what is termed a base map. Put simply a base map is a layer with geographic information that serves as a foundation and provide a context for different maps to tell their story. The Planning Authority has launched a new basemap for the Maltese Islands. Produced from high-resolution orthographic imagery with an impeccable precision and ability to collect detailed information, the new basemap reflects the realities of today and will serve as a ‘canvas’ for volumes of data to tell their story.

The basemap is one of the key deliverables of the €7 million SIntegraM project which was partially financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Ing. Stephen Ferrito, the PA’s Director for Mapping, Information Technology and Digital Services, said “The launch of this new basemap is another important piece of the bigger picture which heralds a new exciting era for spatial data in Malta. Over these past few years, the Planning Authority, together with our strategic partner, has worked on the mammoth task of developing Malta’s first National Spatial Data Infrastructure, the GI Strategy and infrastructure development. The new basemap, 30 years after the initial basemap creation, serves as the keystone and will provide the canvas for how the spatial data we collect, manage, analyse and make available can tell its story.”

The basemap offers key information on the terrain of the Maltese Islands such as buildings, open spaces, and the road network. It is composed of 18 layers and contains over 50 different classifications. The new Basemap takes a bottom to top approach where the bottom layers act as a base layer and additional environmental features are superimposed, providing the possibility to identify ruins, cliffs, rubble walls, the characteristics of terrain, assisting in the taking of informed decisions. The Maltese basemap is widely used for environmental analysis, development planning, laying of new roads, ambulance detours, bus routes and a thousand other applications. This basemap may be accessed from on the Planning Authority’s website www.pa.org.mt through the geoportal link.

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The Planning Authority adapts to working life under COVID-19 IN EARLY MARCH, WORKING LIFE AT THE PLANNING AUTHORITY WAS ROUTINE AND FOR MOST EMPLOYEES STARTED WITH A COMMUTE TO WORK EVERY MORNING. BUT CORONAVIRUS CAME, DISRUPTION SPREAD, AND FAST ADAPTABILITY HAS BEEN KEY TO SURVIVAL. TWO MONTHS LATER, NOT ONLY IS THE AUTHORITY SURVIVING, IT’S THRIVING. SHAPES FINDS OUT MORE.

he coronavirus has changed the way we work — possibly permanently. Debate surrounding whether or not these changes will outlive the pandemic is rife. All we know for certain is that job routines have been transformed. The virus has spurred the expansion of remote working, and companies must adapt or be left behind. Leading the pack in Malta is the Planning Authority. Ing. Stephen Ferrito (Director for ICT, Mapping and Digital Services), Mr David Cassar (Operations Assistant Director) and Ms Mariela Dobreva (IT Manager) explain that in a matter of days — over a weekend to be precise — the Authority

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managed to switch to almost 100 per cent remote, digital working. For the Authority, though, this shift happened after years of strategic investment in ICT. “Since about 2018, the Authority was actively working to provide tele-working and hot-desking facilities for its employees,” explains Mr Cassar, who is responsible for establishing the Authority’s procedures that generally emanate from legal notices. “This kind of change can’t happen overnight; it requires a gradual cultural shift,” adds Ing. Ferrito, who is the crucial link between the Authority’s ICT function and its operations. “We pride ourselves in being an Authority that leads in

ICT. In terms of remote working, it all started with people who had certain family requirements. In 2018, we held a six-month pilot project and, since then, many employees have switched to a working-from-home setup.” The Authority’s remote-working evolution followed in the footsteps of its drive to go paperless that had been ongoing since 2007. “Back then, we wanted to make documentation and processes easily available to Periti and the public,” Mr Cassar recalls. “By 2010, we had already started improving on eApps requiring Periti to submit and access documentation electronically — thereby facilitating digital

processing of development planning applications. Without investment in ICT and data security systems, as well as the years of groundwork, we wouldn’t have been able to adapt to working during this pandemic so seamlessly. When the coronavirus hit, we already had the technology required for some employees to work remotely and for applications to be processed digitally,” explains Ms Dobreva, who heads the IT unit, “but now the scale is very different. Mid-March was a crazy time for us. On Thursday, 12 March, we had only 150 remote workers — and that’s when Malta realised it had a crisis on its hands. By the following Monday, we had distributed new laptops, bought a new server and relevant software licences, and successfully set up another 230 employees to work from home.” “This was an incredible story of teamwork,” adds Ing. Ferrito. “It was our in-house ICT team’s initiative — they came up with the solution, mostly using tools already available to us, and rolled it out in days. If it weren’t for their knowledge, skills and forethought, we wouldn’t have managed. The transition has been a time of learning, adjustment and troubleshooting as employees get accustomed to new routines and tech equipment.” Then came the Authority’s decision for Planning Board sessions to go digital rather than be stalled. From the public’s perspective, this has been transformative. Rather than meeting in person to decide on planning applications, the Boards now meet online — and the public can also join the online meetings. In so doing,

The question is, will the drive to ‘go digital’ be shelved once the emergency subsides? the Authority has maintained accessibility to the Boards, thereby ensuring transparency around deliberations and decisions boosting its accessibility. According to Mr Cassar, “This would have been impossible were it not for the Authority’s insistence on having our systems programmed by an in-house development team, rather than being externally sourced.” “We often get asked about the tangible benefits of investing in IT,” continues Ms Dobreva, “because it’s sometimes seen as the funnelling of money into an insurance that you’re not using; but, ultimately, it will save you. At the Authority, we weren’t prepared because we knew COVID-19 was coming; we were prepared because we invested in a sector that strengthens the core of our business.” “It was our robust team of inhouse programmers and hardware support experts that enabled us to act so quickly,” reiterates Ing. Ferrito. “Because of this, for the most part, the Authority’s work hasn’t been disrupted, and we’re witnessing encouraging and progressive change. “Without Periti, applicants and our employees driving to the Authority and getting stuck in traffic, everyone is saving that precious resource: time. And that’s without even mentioning the

positive environmental impact. The system is of course not without its problems, like occasional technical issues, but the alternative of our work grinding to a halt wasn’t an option.” The pandemic is proving to be a tipping point for the digital transformation of the workplace. The question is, will the drive to ‘go digital’ be shelved once the emergency subsides? While it is still early days for the Authority to declare what the new ‘business as usual’ will look like, Ing. Ferrito asserts that there are lessons to be carried forward. “During this pandemic, the Authority has successfully continued its primary business, but working entirely remotely in the long term is unsustainable. However, we’ve received an overwhelmingly positive response to our online Board sessions — particularly from Periti. So, personally, I see no reason why we can’t develop a hybrid system. At the Authority, our tech vision since 2007 has been to adopt the latest technology to increase efficiency and give a better service to our clients. Now, through our online Boards and e-systems, we’re also increasingly accessible to all stakeholders. Most importantly, though, our ICT investments make us more transparent to the public — and this will definitely continue,” he concludes.

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Unique open air theatre, urban gardens and office building given protection status

OVER THE PAST MONTHS THE PLANNING AUTHORITY WORKED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE AND SCHEDULED A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES FOR THEIR ARCHITECTURE AND HERITAGE VALUE. SHAPES TAKES A LOOK AT WHICH ARE THE LASTEST PROPERTIES TO MAKE THE MARK.

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late 19th-century residential property in Triq il-Karmnu, St Julians, which has a unique neoclassical theatre in its garden has been formally recognised as a Grade 1 building. The highest protection status afforded to a building. The property is considered to be one of the earliest properties in the area. Of significant importance is a historic open-air theatre in the back garden of the property. According to historical documentation, Teatru Melita as it was known was built around the year 1870 and is considered to be the oldest surviving theatre of any kind in the Tas-Sliema and St Julians area. The theatre started to be frequented by people who spent their summer holidays in the area, which was

predominantly a summer resort amongst a few farmers and a small community of fishermen. Apart from theatrical performances and lectures, cinema films were occasionally also screened there. It is evident that this theatre played an important role in the growth of making theatre a popular platform of entertainment in Malta. It also served as the birthplace of the most important theatre company of late nineteenth and early twentieth century Malta, the Kumpanija L-Indipendenza, made famous by Mikelang Borg. The residential part of the property also exhibits significant vernacular architectural elements and features that are synonymous with traditional Maltese townhouses and urban conservation areas. This

late 19th-century building was the residence of the fourth Maltese president, Dr Vincent (Ċensu) Tabone, and his wife, Maria Tabone. Over 20 properties in Triq Santa Monika and Telgħet Gwardamanġa, all of which fall in the urban conservation zone of Pietà, have had the garden area surrounding or at the back end of the property scheduled. This protection has been granted by the PA to safeguard these open spaces which are not only integral to their adjoining property but also to the morphology of the Pietà village core area. The buildings of all the properties had been scheduled by the Authority some years back. The extensive gardens surrounding the Parish dedicated to our Lady of Lourdes have been given the highest grade

of protection. In Telgħet Gwardamanġa, in the close vicinity of St Ignatius School, door number 28 was scheduled as Grade 3 so that a stretch of similar houses now all have the same protection. This property forms part of five identical adjacent houses that have the same massing, rhythm, design and traditional features. They are protected for their collective value. A row of houses in Strait street Valletta, opposite Vincenti Buildings, was also given a Grade 2 protection status. The houses, although not monumental in style and character, were built in 1787 by the Assembly of the Venerable Langue of Provence to increase their revenue. They chose to build these houses in the back garden of their Auberge which overlooked Strait Street. The

Assembly appointed well-known architect Stefano Ittar to build a workmanlike structure suitable for its purpose, which was to provide urban residential units as quickly and as inexpensively as possible. The facade is adorned with a tight row of windows on the first and second floor and three staggered wooden balconies. The buildings are full of apertures mainly because Strait Street was narrower with natural light being limited. Although the facades are rather plain, there is a flash of the old brilliance in the carved pediments of the second floor. Today, the houses are used as one single building by the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security. To view all scheduled buildings and properties in Malta and Gozo visit the PA’s website www.pa.org.mt

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Complaince and enforcement officers get more illegal developments out of the way A NUMBER OF STRUCTURES WHICH WERE BUILT WITHOUT PLANNING PERMISSION, SOME DATING AS FAR BACK AS THE EARLY 1980S, HAVE OVER THE PAST WEEKS BEEN REMOVED AFTER PA COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WARNED CONTRAVENORS OF IMMINENT DIRECT ACTION. HERE IS WHAT GOT REMOVED.

rural structure measuring over 120m² and built in the early 1980s, in close proximity to the Ħagar Qim Temples, limits of Qrendi, was finally demolished and the site returned back to its original state. The structure which had been built without planning permission, in this pristine area along Triq il-Kbira, had been served with an enforcement notice in 1999. On agricultural land in a site off Triq tal-Għarix, limits of Qrendi, a number of other rooms which were constructed recently without planning permission were demolished and the site was reinstated to its previous use. In Xlendi, Gozo, a canopy structure constructed without planning permission outside a restaurant across the waterfront was removed after a planning application to sanction the illegality and an appeal against the enforcement notice were withdrawn. A daily fine was imposed following the issuing of the enforcement notice. The canopy included illegal signage and the placing of tables and chairs which were also removed. A number of disused cars and other heavy machinery and vehicles which were left abandoned in a site within Wied il-Għasel, limits of Mosta, were removed. The site forms part of an area, more than

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1.5km in length, where the Planning Authority had given planning permission for a rehabilitation and upgrading project to be carried out in 2017. The area starts off from Wied Għajn Riħana near the Victoria Lines, between Mosta and Bidnija, and extends to the proximity of the Grade 1 Scheduled Chapel, dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria, right down in the valley beyond the quarries. Last year, to tackle the pending caseload of enforcement cases, the Authority adopted a strategic approach regarding the old cases. This yielded the desired results since the number of pending

enforcement cases was reduced by an additional 61% when compared to the reduction in the number of cases of the previous year. In the coming weeks, the Compliance & Enforcement Directorate will keep working vigilantly not only to monitor that all ongoing development works are being carried out according to approved drawings and conditions of the permission but will continue to address old cases where illegal development was carried out and is still not regularised or removed. To watch a video related to this enforcement action visit our YouTube Channel.

Qrendi

Xlendi

PA introduces measures to address impact of COVID-19

he COVID-19 pandemic is showing itself to be a ruthless virus not only when it comes to human health but also with the severe socio-economic consequences it is leaving behind. The measures that are needed to address these challenging times must come from all sectors and at every level. In the context of these extraordinary circumstances that the country is facing, the Planning Authority too has taken proactive measures. Both measures the PA has rolled out address certain financial difficulties applicants may be facing as a result of the current circumstances related to COVID-19. One of the measures relates to financial post-decision requirements. When a development permit is approved by the Planning Commission/Planning Board and is subject to post-decision requirements (ie. payments of fines, planning gains, CPPS, UIF and imposition of financial guarantees), these need to be complied with, within six months of the decision for the executable version of the permit to be issued. The Authority has automatically extended by a further six months, the deadline of all monetary post-decision requirements which expire between 1st March and 1st August 2020. All affected development

permits will remain non-executable until pending post-decision requirements are fully settled. The second measure relates to the extension, by an additional 3 years, of all development permits which were still within their validity period on 27th March 2020 but are due to expire by, or any date earlier than the 31st December 2022. The Authority introduced this measure to prevent current development permit holders from having to carry out a significant amount of works within a relatively short period of time once normality is restored. The measure, which applies only to permits which are already in hand, will also ensure that the rights of those granted a development permit are safeguarded. This extension will also facilitate the completion of small household projects, as well as larger business projects, while reducing the administrative burdens related

to the renewal of development permissions already in force. Not to disrupt the momentum of the building and construction industry which has a substantial impact on the economic wheel of the country, the Authority, at the beginning of April, introduced a new protocol that allows its Executive Council, Planning Board/ Commissions to conduct their meetings in public using electronic communication. In this way planning application decisions started to be taken without much delay. Perit Simone Vella Lineker, President of the Kamra talPeriti, said “When all Board and Commission meetings were cancelled to ensure the safety of its staff and the public, we favourably considered the option of video conferencing. The Authority set up a very workable system that ensures easy access and participation in its proceedings. The system has received positive feedback from periti and their clients, albeit with a few teething problems that we are working on resolving with the Authority. I strongly feel that this system should continue to be utilised even once the health emergency is over, while still allowing the option for people to participate in person if they so wish, since the advantages are many, including reduction in travelling and better usage of time.”

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New fuel station policy addressess environmental concerns FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS WITH VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS AND EXPERTS, AND AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION VARIOUS ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS, THE FUEL STATION POLICY HAS BEEN REVISED AND PUBLISHED. SHAPES TAKES A LOOK AT WHAT THE KEY CHANGES HAVE BEEN.

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he new policy document, which the Planning Authority (PA) and the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) worked on during the past couple of months, addresses a number of environmental concerns and includes several significant changes to the policy which was published in April 2015. The Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning said that the government is thereby laying the foundations for better planning and with a more intelligent vision, taking on board both the planning sector and environmental considerations. “The revised policy sets a capping

on the number of fuel stations, as well as stricter limits on relocations. It considers the wellbeing of our residential communities, as well as the environment. I believe the country spent too much time discussing this policy when the topic which should have been high on our agenda is the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles in the next two decades in order to go electric,” Minister Farrugia said. The Chairperson of the Executive Council of the Planning Authority Martin Saliba said that the PA is confident that, through this new revised Fuel Service Station Policy, the right balance has been achieved. “We feel that this policy is limiting the take-up of land for

THE TEN KEY CHANGES ARE THE FOLLOWING: s

Capping in the overall number of fuel stations in Malta and Gozo.

Only relocation of an existing fuel station will be considered.

An existing fuel station must be creating a negative impact on the built environment to be considered for relocation.

Extensions of existing fuel stations located partially or fully in ODZ areas will not be accepted.

ODZ sites on agricultural, isolated, or sporadic land will not be considered under any circumstance, even if covered by a valid development permit or committed pre-1967.

Maximum size of fuel station in ODZ reduced from 3,000m² to 1,000m², including amenities.

The height of any new fuel station cannot exceed 7 meters.

ODZ sites in the close vicinity of industrial areas, SME areas, and Areas of Containment, have been removed from acceptable locations. All Open Storage Areas have been removed.

A buffer zone is being reintroduced between a proposed fuel station and vulnerable receptors. Relocations within 500m of an existing fuel station will not be considered.

The new policy shall also apply to all pending fuel station applications.

future fuel service stations allowable only for genuine cases, where their current location has today resulted in them being an injury or safety concern to the amenity.” ERA Acting CEO Michelle Piccinino said that ERA had an important role in this review, and a significant number of changes that were proposed by ERA were taken on board in the final policy document. As a result, the revised Fuel Stations Policy provides the necessary protection of land ODZ, while allowing for the relocation of existing fuel stations from problematic areas. The revised fuel service policy may be viewed on www.pa.org.mt

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P L A N N I N G AU T H O R I T Y

NEWS PARTIAL REVIEW OF THE NORTH WEST LOCAL PLAN AND THE HAL FERH DEVELOPMENT BRIEF

he Government has requested the Planning Authority to carry out a review of a planning policy which gives direction as to the provisions which establish the allowable land-uses on the site of the redundant Hal Ferh tourist complex and its immediate surrounding areas in Ghajn Tuffieha, Limits of Mellieha. The review seeks to amend policy NWGT 1 of the North West Local Plan and the Hal Ferh Development Brief. The purpose of this review is to include permanent residential Development in the list of acceptable land-uses on the site. For more information visit www.pa.org.mt/consultation

Turning Marsa Sports Complex into an international recognised sports hub

ew proposed planning policies have been published by the Planning Authority to further enable the site of the Marsa Sports Complex and its immediate vicinity to be transformed into an internationally recognised sports hub. The review has divided the Marsa Sports Complex site into four zones and is proposing a maximum cumulative built footprint of not more than 60,000sqm. Through this policy review, especially given the nature of the site, the Authority is also encouraging a strong element of green infrastructure to be incorporated into any upgrading or redevelopment of existing facilities. The proposed policy document and maps are available on the Authority’s website www.pa.org.mt/consultation

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PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE IS NOT

EXPENSIVE

it’s

riceless

CONSERVE:

the art, tradition and culture of our closed timber balcony SAFEGUARD:

the skills, craftsmanship and methods of construction RESTORE:

the authentic design, material and ﬁnish