Updated | Developers complain about costs due to under-staffed Superintendence of Cultural Heritage

The Malta Developers Association (MDA) has complained that the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, which vets development applications over issues of heritage conservation, is facing a backlog that is preventing it from conducting its duties faster. 

“The MDA appreciates the importance of these responsibilities, but it cannot allow the current state where the Superintendence faces a large backlog in its workload that cannot be tackled with the speed that any applicant for development expects,” the MDA said in a statement, complaining of “increased costs”. 

“This situation is not only frustrating applicants for development but is also increasing their costs. This extra cost will eventually be borne by the buyers of newly built property, with the general public not realising that interests paid because of bureaucracy and time-wasting are part of the equation when calculating the cost of a project.” 

The Superintendence of Cultural Heritage’s mission is to ensure the protection and accessibility of Malta’s cultural heritage. But according to its website, its staff just numbers 13.

The MDA said it wants the government to take the necessary measures to solve this problem without further delay. 

“The MDA has received numerous complaints about the output of the Office of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. Enough time has passed since the recent changes in the set-up of this office and we now expects this office to work more efficiently and expeditiously. However, it seems that this office is still hampered by lack of human resources and is consequently facing responsibilities beyond its capacity.” 

Ministry's reaction

Reacting to the MDA's statement, the Justice ministry, which is responsible for the superintendence, said it remained committed to the improvement of procedures related to the monitoring of archaeological heritage at construction sites.  

It said that as a result of amendments to planning laws implemented during the last legislature, all development applications are referred to the superintendence for review with the aim of ensuring effective protection of the country’s heritage.

Furthermore, the ministry said that several technical employees had been employed this year, with a further 13 graduates in various fields of cultural heritage engaged in recent months.