New development application order to allow prisons, police land expansion

The Planning  Authority is proposing to add two new category classes to the Development Notification Order (DNO), covering development related to the Corradino Correctional Facility and development by the Malta Police Force.

A DNO is a legal notice that exempts a range of generally minor developments from full development permit application procedures, if these satisfy certain criteria.

There are currently 19 category classes of permitted development which include internal alterations, roof structures and more.

The addition of class 20 to the DNO regulations will give leeway to the Director of the Corradino Correctional Facility to carry out development works on land which is already assigned for the same prison facility.

If a proposed development for the prison is located on a protected area or within a scheduled property, prior clearance by the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage and by the Environment and Resources Authority would be needed. A proposed development must also be recommended by home affairs minister Michael Farrugia, who is responsible of the prison.

Similarly, the introduction of class 21 would relate to development carried out on land under the operational control of the Malta Police Force.

The full proposed legal notice which will enable these changes, may be viewed on the Planning Authority’s website www.pa.org.mt/public-consultation.

The PA invited individuals and organisations to send their representation related to the proposed changes in writing through [email protected] by not later than Monday 17 July.