Massive 5,550 submissions on new local plans

Local plans to be approved by end-2014 will determine the way Malta and Gozo will look over the next years

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has received 5,500 written submissions from the general public between July and September last year on the proposed local plans.

The new local plans will be issued for public consultation by the end of 2014 and the intention is to have them approved by mid-2015.
The local plans will follow the direction given in the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Planning (SPEC), CEO Johann Buttigieg said in MEPA’s annual report.

Changes to the local plans will reflect “the needs of the business sector, the need for environmental enhancement and protection and the needs of citizens,” Buttigieg wrote.

New policies regulating outside-development-zone (ODZ) development and firework factories are expected to be also approved by the end of the year.
During 2013, MEPA received a total of 2,000 reports on illegalities, which amount to 40 a week. Of these 462 dealt with illegalities in ODZs. According to Enforcement Director Alexander Borg, 272 of these cases were resolved without the need for further action.