Shapes Magazine July 2020

A PLANNING AUTHORITY PUBLICATION

A PLANNING AUTHORITY PUBLICATION JULY-SEPTEMBER 2020

FOREWORD

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Natural heritage conservation

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More of Malta’s built heritage given special protection

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Bringing back the night

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Context is key

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Responsive planning for the built environment

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Urban greening gets a funding boost

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PA News

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e have already passed the halfway mark of 2020. And what a year it is turning out to be.

Despite the challenging and unprecedented months that we have been through, the Authority has courageously worked to stick to its promises and deliver, especially on the policy aspect and their interpretation.

Our priority was to conclude the draft Rural Policy.

We all acknowledge that our rural areas need to be better protected. The draft Rural Policy explicitly prioritises that rural areas are intended to sustain the farming community while providing the public with a space to get away from daily urban life. This reviewed policy was drafted with the mindset that urban development and activity do not belong to rural areas.

Of equal importance is adequately protecting our built cultural heritage. On this front, we published clearer guidelines on how to identify, interpret, and treat the context of scheduled buildings. We promise that greater vigilance will be given when assessing and determining proposed development applications which fall close to a scheduled building or monument.

Our financial support for urban greening projects has been pushed high on our agenda. We revised the framework of the Development Planning Fund to incentivise local councils, regions and NGOs to invest in Green and Blue Infrastructure.

In collaboration with ERA, we also launched draft guidelines which aim to provide advice on how light pollution can be reduced or even avoided.

While artificial light offers valuable benefits to society, if used inappropriately, it can be a nuisance and is harmful to human health and wildlife.

We are confident that these new policies and guidelines will effectively translate into better decision making that is consistent, reasonable and justified.

Martin Saliba Executive Chairperson of the Planning Authority

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Natural heritage conservation New proposed rural policy will support agriculture and safeguard the countryside

A DRAFT RURAL POLICY AND DESIGN GUIDANCE HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE PLANNING AUTHORITY WITH THE SCOPE OF REPLACING THE 2014 POLICY. SHAPES FINDS OUT WHAT THE KEY PROPOSED CHANGES ARE.

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he proposed policy document provides a clearer interpretation for the scope of rural development, placing at its core the genuine needs of farmers and the conservation of the rural area which is part of Malta’s natural heritage and biodiversity.

The revised policy seeks to bring about more clarity by which it gives explicit definitions to the meaning of certain terminology used in the document. For example, an existing building in a rural area clearly excludes any temporary or makeshift structures or ruins, trapping or hunting hides, and similar structures.

The previous definition that an existing building is a permitted building or a pre-1978 building which can be seen on the aerial photos has been removed.

The draft policy is recommending a number of amendments to policies regulating development related to the agriculture sector and value-added activities. One of the key changes relates to the increase in the herd size for cows, sheep or goats for eligibility for new livestock farmer’s dwelling.

Dwellings for arable farmers will be prohibited. The land requirements for eligibility for agricultural stores is proposed to become more restrictive. Development related to agriculture value-added activities will be limited to boutique wineries, olive oil production and honey-processing only.

The conversion of a farm for visitor attractions will be restricted to only 25% of the existing buildings. Tourism accommodation shall only be allowed on existing farmers’ dwelling, where the farmer would host tourists. The existing dwelling cannot be smaller than 100sqm and not larger than 250sqm. In both instances, the applicant has to be a registered farmer for at least five years and companies will not be allowed to apply. The ultimate aim is to give tourists the possibility to experience the work done on a Maltese farm.

The draft policy has made it clear that no new stand-alone buildings for stables shall be permitted.

Martin Saliba, Chairperson of the Planning Authority’s Executive Council, said, “the draft policy is not only in sync with the spirit of the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development but more importantly, seeks to prioritise that rural areas are intended to sustain the farming community while providing the public with a space to get away from the daily urban life and experience the natural richness of the Islands’ countryside and its biodiversity and natural

heritage.” Mr Saliba added, “that the document makes it clear that urban development and urban activity in general, including human habitation, need to be channeled away from rural areas to those parts of the Maltese Islands designated primarily for this scope.”

The policy also spells out what uses will be permitted for the redevelopment of buildings in the Rural Area. Only scheduled buildings in rural areas can be converted into a residence. This will only be considered if one dwelling unit with a minimum floor space of 100sqm is created. Extensions to dwellings can only be considered if the property in question is visible on the 1978 aerial photos and has been used as a residence before 1978. The extension can be no more than 50% of the current floor space and never more than 200sqm floorspace and 150sqm footprint.

The proposed revised Policy and Design Guidance may be viewed on the Authority’s website www.pa.org.mt/consultation.

Representations are to be made in writing and sent through e-mail on rural.policy@pa.org.mt.

Submissions on the proposed policy document are to reach the Authority by 24th August 2020.

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More of Malta’s built heritage given special protection OVER THE PAST WEEKS THE PLANNING AUTHORITY IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE SCHEDULED A NUMBER OF PROPERTIES AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES WHICH MERIT A HIGH PROTECTION STATUS. SHAPES TAKES A LOOK AT WHICH BUILDINGS MADE THE LIST.

TAL-QAĊĊA, XAGĦRA, GOZO In Gozo, the Authority scheduled recently discovered archaeological features consisting of two cavities located within an archaeological site known as ‘Tal-Qaċċa’ in Triq tal-Qaċċa, Xagħra. The two cavities located to the SouthEast of the Xagħra Stone Circle, reveal extensive archaeological deposit of human remains, neolithic pottery and traces of red ochre. With the site being close to the Stone Circle, is it highly likely that these features are an extension of the neolithic mass burial site.

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SAQQAJJA AREA, RABAT Thirty-three properties and monuments in Rabat, which include the Church dedicated to St. Mark and its adjacent monastery, a number of unique residences and statues located along Vjal Santu Wistin, Triq il-Mużew, IsSaqqajja and Triq Santu Wistin, have been given a Grade 1 or Grade 2 protection status for their architecture and heritage value.

The Church dedicated to St Mark and its adjacent monastery which fall under the religious order of the Augustinians was given the highest protection status as Grade 1 properties. The construction of the Church, based on the design of the famous Girolomo Cassar, started in 1571 and was completed by 1588. The Church is roofed over the wide nave with a barrel vault, which is one of the earliest in Malta and is considered to have served as a prototype for Cassar’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

The adjacent Augustinian monastery, which has undergone considerable restructuring since it was originally built, is the design of architect Andrea Belli. The facade of the convent is a highly ornate baroque one, with an emphasis being drawn onto the main entrance, through columns, extensive sculpture

and an elliptical balcony.

The four limestone statues located within the semi-circular piazza in front of the church at the beginning of Vjal Santu Wistin are also being scheduled as Grade 1 monuments.

The four statues represent St

Nicholas of Tolentino, Our Lady of Consolation, St Anthony the Abbot and St Augustine. All the original statues are the work of Ċensu Sammut, a master sculptor with ties to the Dimech family of sculptors.

In Vjal Santu Wistin, a number of

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residences have been scheduled as Grade 2 buildings for their architectural and historical merits. All the properties have an extensive front garden and provide a very rare and open streetscape especially when considering that streetscapes within Urban Conservation Areas normally consist of traditional and narrow roads characterised by a series of facades/frontages.

The properties along is-Saqqajja are mainly characterised by a Victorian influence. Three of the properties along this street are built in a Tudor revival style with neo-gothic influences, typically found in Victorian Britain and very rare within the local context.

An important characteristic within this area and which is now also protected is the visual link between Vjal Santu Wistin and Triq Santu Wistin, which interconnect through the semi-circular pjazza in front of St Mark’s church. While the avenue serves as an important link between the centre of Rabat and the main gate of Mdina, the

Photo by viewingmalta.com

VILLA FRERE, PIETÀ The unique historical property of Villa Frere and most of its reputable landscaped garden area have also been given the highest level of protection.

Although most of this property, which is one of the finest examples of 18th century Neoclassical British architecture in Malta, has already been protected as a Grade 2 building for several years, the PA felt that Villa Frere merited the highest level of protection. The heritage richness of this property is not only tied to the architecture of

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the villa and its terraced gardens but also important is the social and cultural experience that this property was exposed to.

Built during the 18th century, the villa became the residence of Sir John Hookham Frere, an English diplomat of considerable repute. It is documented that Sir John was a good friend of Mikiel Anton Vassalli, considered to be one of the fathers of the Maltese language. He, together with other distinguished guests was a regular visitor to these gardens. Sir John Hookham

Photo by M. Bonello

Frere died at his residence and was buried at the Msida Bastion Cemetery which is in direct sight of Villa Frere.

Bringing back the night New draft guidelines address issues of light pollution

THE PLANNING AUTHORITY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES AUTHORITY (ERA) HAS LAUNCHED DRAFT GUIDELINES WHICH PRIMARILY SEEK TO PROVIDE ADVICE ON HOW LIGHT POLLUTION CAN BE REDUCED OR EVEN AVOIDED, PARTICULARLY IN CASES OF EXISTING BAD LIGHTING INSTALLATIONS.

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rtificial light offers valuable benefits to society. It provides for the possibility to continue with educational, leisure, recreational, travel and economic activities well beyond the daylight hours. However, if used inappropriately, artificial light can be a nuisance and is harmful to human health and wildlife.

Anthony Borg who is the Chairperson of the committee tasked with drawing up these guidelines pointed out that “we must not underestimate the health hazard that light pollution brings with it. Today, we are more familiar with speaking about air, waste and noise pollution but studies related to the effects of unnecessary man-made light have only started to emerge over the past years.

Although we must not be alarmists, we must address the negative impacts and look at ways how we can improve our quality of life. Us humans, like most life on Earth,

adhere to a day-night cycle. Studies show that exposure to artificial light at night-time suppresses the production of melatonin in our body which is an important antioxidant which reduces the risk of cancer.”

One of the major causes of light nuisance results from the spill-over of light. Simpler put, it is external artificial light which goes beyond the area that is meant to be illuminated. While today external energy-efficient LED luminaires are one of the top lighting solutions on the market, few speak about the high blue-rich light they emit, particularly those with a colour temperature of more than 3000K. Blue-rich light is considered to be amongst one of the greatest sources to light pollution The guidelines provide a number of measures on how to reduce many of the negative effects of lighting through careful design and planning.

A measure which the guidelines propose is that well-designed

external lighting installations should only be used when required. In residential areas, where outdoor lighting is necessary for safety and security reasons, one should strongly consider the installation of motion sensors to operate the light fittings during periods of activity. This is not only economically sustainable but also more effective in terms of security.

The introduction of fully-shielded fixtures is another measure at mitigating light nuisance. This fixture will ensure that no light is emitted above the horizontal plane.

The guidelines discourage the use of ‘cool white’ light sources with high colour temperature.

Instead ‘warmer white’ sources which have a correlated colour temperature not higher than 3000K and which reach the same efficacy levels as the bluerich sources, should be used.

High-intensity searchlights or lasers pointing into the sky, as a means of publicity or entertainment are to be avoided.

Given that most development is likely to include some sort of outdoor lighting, such as in backyards, internal yards, terraces and/or on the façade, the guidelines are proposing that all development permits shall be accompanied by a standard condition which addresses light pollution.

The guidelines are also proposing that a lighting scheme report endorsed by an independent warranted engineer will be required whenever a development permit is issued for projects of an industrial and commercial nature, the construction development of new roads or their upgrading, sports facilities, public gardens and playing areas, architectural illumination including church domes and building facades or projects in an ODZ area.

While all illuminated billboards and signage give rise to some degree of light pollution, the most damaging are the LED billboards.

These not only give rise to glare but are also a safety hazard to motorists and pedestrians due to

their sudden change in content and intensity of light. For these reasons, the guidelines are proposing that the brightness of all LED billboards should be reduced considerably after sunset, not exceed 100 cd/m2.

Anthony Borg points out that the scope of these guidelines is to also set a framework for the adoption of Dark Sky Areas in mainland Malta, similar to areas already designated on Gozo and Comino. Unfortunately, due to the urban growth which in itself has brought excessive, misaimed and unshielded night lighting, we have lost the mystery and wonder of the dark night sky.

Today, the Milky Way cannot be seen from 89% of the Maltese territory.

With the introduction of dark sky heritage areas, together with the efforts of every individual to conform with these guidelines, not only can we rediscover the splendour of the stars but also protect our ecology and wildlife from the negative effects of light pollution.

To view the full draft guidelines visit www.pa.org.mt/consultation

The guidelines discourage the use of ‘cool white’ light sources with high colour temperature.

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Context is Key NEW GUIDELINES BY THE PA AIM TO SAFEGUARD TO CONTEXT OF SCHEDULED BUILDINGS.

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ith a new set of guidelines, the Planning Authority (PA) is committing itself to be more sensitive to the context and environment that are part of scheduled buildings and monuments.

Following the new and clearer guidelines on how to identify, interpret and treat the settings/ contexts of scheduled buildings, the PA has changed the approach on the matter, with greater vigilance being given when assessing and determining proposed development applications that fall in close proximity to a scheduled building or monument.

Speaking about the matter to Martin Saliba, the Chairperson of the

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PA’s Executive Council, he explains that, “Each scheduled building is located within a spatial context with which it relates 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. These procedural guidelines better spell out how we intend not to compromise our built cultural heritage.”

These guidelines seek to consolidate the spirit behind Thematic Objective 8 of the SPED, which advocates for the safeguarding of the contexts and settings of sites that carry heritage value.

When assessing a development application that is in close proximity to a scheduled building or

monument, the Planning Directorate must identify the proximity of the setting of the scheduled property, make a detailed assessment of the impacts of the proposed development on the protected building, and identify the mitigation measures. This must be done at screening stage or during the assessment of the application.

This assessment process must also be supported by recommendations made by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage (SCH).

Once the extent of the context is established on the recommendations of the SCH, the applicant is required to provide the Planning Directorate with a complete photographic

“Each scheduled building is located within a spatial context with which it relates in different aspects”

inventory and ‘character appraisal’ of the context.

To further assess the visual implications and potential impacts on the scheduled building, photomontage(s) from strategic viewpoints will also be required.

The SCH has the right to request the submission of drawings to include streetscapes showing full details of the adjoining buildings and existing street levels. The streetscape elevations should span across side streets when sites near or at corners are being proposed for development. The proposed architectural design should not only respect the context but should also aim to blend in with the surroundings, rather than create a bold statement

that competes with the nearby scheduled building.HPU will assess these cases prior to validation and determine whether the submission has satisfied the relevant criteria to enable adequate evaluation during processing or whether any other information is deemed necessary.

The Authority is also going to make it a requisite that all proposed development applied for through the Summary Process and which may have an adverse impact on the integrity and character of the setting of a scheduled building (within a 50m radius from its boundary) will need to be processed as a full development application. In this way, proposed works at such sensitive sites are effectively scrutinised.

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Responsive Planning for the Built Environment EFFECTIVE PLANNING FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT IN MALTA IS A FORMIDABLE TASK. THE ISLANDS ARE SMALL WITH LIMITED NATURAL RESOURCES, SO BOOSTING INFRASTRUCTURAL CAPACITIES AND MEETING SECTORIAL DEMANDS ARE NO EASY FEAT. HERE, PERIT JOSEPH SCALPELLO GUIDES US ALONG THE JOURNEY OF SPATIAL PLANNING IN MALTA.

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hen navigating a policy landscape of competing interests, plans are created in the hope of achieving national goals. In reality, though, strategy is often a lot more about planning for obstacles, and infusing policies with adaptability, than one may first assume. This opens up a plan’s success beyond reaching an end goal and towards securing longevity.

Perit Joseph Scalpello, Assistant Director in the Planning Authority’s Planning Directorate, emphasises the importance of adaptability and responsiveness in successful urban planning. “Success is a very individual phenomenon which is not always measured in the same way, but which tends to elicit personal value judgements,” explains Perit Scalpello. “Measuring success is a very subjective process

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masquerading as objectivity.

Speaking in simple terms, a successful plan is one which sees your objectives come to fruition.

But, that’s a reductionist explanation of a complicated concept.

For example, if the Authority’s solar farm policy promoted largescale solar installations, is the policy’s success based on an approach of ‘the more solar farms, the better’? If we only measured success in numbers, there could be very negative implications — not least because we operate in an evolving physical, financial, social and political context. Rather than numbers alone, an important gauge of success is how responsive we are to our changing circumstances by adapting parts of the plan.

In 2006, we created the childcare policy in reaction to the then-popular idea of having

government-funded childcare facilities. Considering the significant number of childcare centres that opened, one could say the policy was successful. But context is not static, so the policy can’t just sit still. For example, after 2006, the Social Policy Department issued new standards for childcare and childcare facilities. So, in 2015, we determined a further layer of regulation needed to be woven into the policy’s framework.”

Dynamic planning is fundamental because policy development is continuous. Reviewing a policy, while retaining its primary goals, is a strategic milestone and marker of success. As a public entity though, the Planning Authority is acutely aware of the balance that must be struck between competing sectorial interests — an overarching objective of any policy action.

Perit Joseph Scalpello

“For successful planning, the process of policymaking is crucial,” Perit Scalpello asserts. “People need to know why a policy is being made, what it is seeking to achieve and what it is reacting to. Community involvement will produce a more successful plan because the policy will ultimately better reflect the interests of most stakeholders.

We strive to involve all stakeholders in our policy-making processes, noting their requirements and concerns. For instance, with the solar farms policy, energy providers, solar farm developers, renewable energy experts, research institutions and NGOs are the ones who know the technical and environmental requirements. They’re vital for our information gathering.”

After securing community involvement, the resultant policy cannot trigger a one-size-fits-all approach. “Following the solar farms policy, we witnessed a surge in applications for largescale solar farms,” Perit Scalpello continues, “but we have a strict assessment process. We separated good applications from those of speculative development, leaving only a small number of approved applications. But development planning and policy are a small part of society as a whole.”

“The crux of planning is to accommodate demand without damaging what is important for the country, the public and the individual — including parties who hold a powerful influence over the evolution of national sectors. You may start off with the best of intentions, but then a change leads to the whole policy mechanism needing to be reviewed.

For example, when banks started becoming more conservative about issuing loans, they generated a ripple effect that saw the planning system and policy frameworks having to react quickly.”

While an institution can strive for improvement, bringing ideas to life relies on doing the best one can at any given point in time — and context always presents limitations. The Planning Authority tows the line, trying to sift out the short-term positives from longterm negatives. When forecasting, though, the longer the timeframe, the more uncertain things become.

“For climate change, we talk about 100-year plans,” continues Perit Scalpello, “with unknown elements that make these plans less detailed and more difficult to realise than shorter-term plans. Fundamentally, a plan’s measure of success hinges on not accommodating the interests of one sector alone.

“For example, a boost in tourism might put too much pressure on infrastructure and force increased investment in energy generation and transport. With urban planning, we need to remain mindful that our carrying capacity is not infinite, and there are concrete, knockon effects and limitations when translating an idea into reality.

But it’s a dynamic system, and we work with milestones that motivate us to review and improve.”

For the Authority, 2020 represents just such a milestone

in its strategic planning. In 2015, the Authority’s structural plan was revised and a strategic vision for the next 20 years was rolled out.

This year, the strategy is up for review, triggering questions about how well the plan is holding up five years later. In his concluding remarks, Perit Scalpello explains that now is the time to see how the Authority’s 2015 vision has moved Malta’s national objectives forward.

“The key question is, how has life changed since 2015?” Perit Scalpello says. “It’s a rolling process of reviewing the validity of our vision given the ticking of time.

If we find that we now have new requirements, we’ll adapt our journey because this is critical to the success of our strategic plan. A case in point would be the tourism industry. From the ‘traditional’, resort-style tourist, we’re now living in the sharing economy and experiencing an expansion of visitors opting for Airbnb-style accommodation.

As we review, we’ll ask, what are the implications of this? And how are we going to react?”

“This is where real success lies — in asking questions, seeking stakeholder involvement, understanding our evolving context and proactively adapting our policy frameworks in response. If we don’t like where a trend is heading, this is how we can intervene to change it. But if we do like the trend, this is also when we determine the next steps in our planning future.”

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Urban Greening Gets a Funding Boost FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR URBAN GREENING PROJECTS HAS BEEN PUSHED TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE PLANNING AUTHORITY’S AGENDA. HERE, PERIT VINCENT CASSAR, CHAIRPERSON OF THE PLANNING AUTHORITY’S DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FUND COMMITTEE, TALKS ABOUT RECENT REVISIONS MADE TO THIS FUND AS PART OF THE AUTHORITY’S GREEN REFORMS.

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ince January 2017, the Planning Authority has invested in Malta’s quality of life and environmental sustainability through its Planning Development Fund. The Fund promotes projects that embellish urban areas for the benefit of the wider residential community.

With financing available to local councils, NGOs and other entities, following the latest revisions, the Fund is now Malta’s most widescale injection of capital into projects that, in particular, promote urban greening and support vulnerable sectors of society.

Perit Cassar says “Since as early as 2003, the Authority has had various funding schemes for public projects but these operated in quite a fragmented manner. To fix this, through the setting up of the Planning Development Fund, we’ve adopted a consolidated approach for the funding of urban improvement projects. We established a single committee

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to regulate a single fund. Our revised, streamlined approach has made funding more accessible to urban embellishment initiatives.”

“The Planning Development Fund receives financing from a few different sources, with onstreet parking fees being the most significant among them. Planning gains too make up a portion of the fund, whereby a developer of a sizeable new development is asked to make a financial contribution for the inconvenience caused in the locality where their development occurs. The submitted funds have primarily been used on a locality’s community projects aimed at mitigating the negative effects of urban development. The contribution, therefore, is kept within the locality to be used on projects that improve its community facilities and green areas.”

Building on its previous measures and following considerable input from various local councils and the Ministry for Environment, Climate

Change and Planning, the Fund’s revision in 2020 is replete with incentives for local councils, regions, NGOs and other bodies to invest in Green and Blue Infrastucture (GBI).

The Planning Authority believes in the benefits this will have on Malta’s environment, biodiversity, health and quality of life. In this respect, the Authority is promoting cross-organisational partnerships to encourage the involvement of people with the right expertise, the necessary experience and the most innovative and informed vision.

“Previously, a project would receive up to 70% of eligible funds,” explains Perit Cassar. “There were some exceptions, though, because we’ve always encouraged Local Councils to join forces on public projects. This is because two heads are better than one, and through a partnership you benefit from economies of scale. To encourage joint projects between two local councils, we had made 100% of eligible funds available to such

projects. With our latest revision, we’ve expanded this incentive to all partnerships and not just those between local councils. So, for example, a local council can now partner up with an NGO or another entity, or an NGO could partner up with another NGO, to jointly apply.”

“Besides partnerships, our funding rates have also been amended in other aspects too.

For example, most projects used to receive 70% of eligible funding.

But now, projects that incorporate facilities for persons with disability will get 80%, and GBI inteventions will receive 90%. And in some cases, green open spaces, such as gardens and green roofs in urban areas, will even be granted up to 100%.

This not only includes the capital expediture but any required studies and a five year maintenance plan.”

What’s more, 100% of funding is not the Fund’s upper limit. Projects that incorporate vertical green walls overlooking public spaces, such a public garden with walls on either side, will receive a 5% bonus and if there is need of a development application it will have its fees waived. The intention is for the community to benefit from a more pleasant aesthetic experience by having ‘living walls’ of plants dominating vertical planes, rather than a garden overlooked by bare walls. With land becoming such a scarcity, this incentive encourages new methods of introducing greenery into Malta’s urban environment to purify the air, reduce ambient temperature and enhance the community’s well-being.

“We’re eager to receive applications for innovative urban greening projects,” continues Perit Cassar. “We want to see projects

Perit Vincent Cassar

with sustainable ecology, the health of the community and a vision for long-term success at their core. We’ve also introduced funding to cover maintenance costs because we know that site maintenance is off-putting from a financial perspective.

Therefore, for such projects, the funding application requires a five-year maintenance plan.

“If successful, the applicant will receive maintenance funding for that initial five-year period. The idea is that green spaces are going to look sparse on day one, requiring a large amount of maintenance until the greenery reaches maturity. After five years, it should have reached a level of maturity that will make it more likely to survive with less maintenance. Through consultations with the Environment and Resources Authority, we have also determined the kinds of plant species that applications could include to benefit Maltese biodiversity.”

The driving force behind these new incentives is the Authority’s desire to receive more funding

applications for projects that will genuinely improve community well-being. And this looks to be probable because larger localities with significant urban development are also seeing their capping of funds being increased from €5 million to €7 million. In addition, the ‘Sebbaħ il-Lokal’ initiative, which has seen an additional €50,000 allotted to particular localities, has also been extended to December 2022.

“We want to encourage organisations to partner up with experts to break new ground in urban greening in Malta,” concludes Perit Cassar. “We’re hoping for a shift in mentality. Urban greening projects require patience. It will take time for trees and plants to grow. But when they do, our quality of life will receive a boost that no amount of quick-fix paving can provide. With the volume of funding that’s available through the Planning Development Fund, we believe that the time for sustainable and cutting-edge greening projects in Malta is now.”

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

NEWS PA SPONSORS HIGH-QUALITY PUBLICATION OF MASP AWARDS 2019

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he Planning Authority is working in collaboration with Kite Group on a high-quality coffee table publication which will extensively feature the winners of the 2019 Malta Architecture and Spatial Planning Awards.

The book will primarily showcase the outstanding architecture and

interior design projects which won or received a commendation in the MASP Awards for 2019.

This publication will also help raise public awareness about the value of architecture and culture of excellence that certain architects bring to projects, no matter the limits of size and scope.

SUMMER SHUT-DOWN

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Second edition of photographic roadshow exhibition

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uring August and September in Valletta and Mdina, the PA will be inaugurating the second edition of the photographic roadshow exhibition entitled ‘Unsung’ Architectural Icons. The exhibition brings together some of the most beautiful buildings constructed in Malta between the late 19th and the mid-20th centuries in a series of 30 photos that celebrate local, modernist architecture.

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The majority of these 30 buildings were designed and built in the modernist style that was introduced to the Islands in the late 1920s and which remained popular until the 1960s. The exhibition starts in Mdina (in front of St Paul’s Cathedral) between the 25th August and 2nd September 2020, then it will move to the locality of Valletta (Merchant Street) between the 8th and 16th September 2020.

he PA offices will be closed between the 13th and 14th August 2020 (both dates included). The Authority’s emergency service number 2290 0000 for reports on illegal development will remain operating as usual.

Between the 8th August and the 22nd August 2020, the Authority’s procedures and decisions will be within what is termed as a ‘period of inactivity.’ This period, which is stipulated in the law, means that all the target dates and deadlines associated with the processing and determination of planning applications will be suspended within this timeframe. This window of inactivity was introduced to reduce the pressure for both Periti and the public to have to meet target dates and deadlines during a period which for many is considered as a vacation period.

During this inactivity period apart from the 2 day shut down, the offices of the Planning Authority will continue to offer all day-to-day services to visiting customers.

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