Higher fees for development applications as from 16 July

The new applications for non-commercial development will be calculated as per square metre, as against the current rates which apply per development irrespective of development size.

This means that the bigger the development size, the higher the payable fee for every development. For instance, the development fee for penthouses will be €13.02 per square metre as against the current €815.28 fee for the whole building.

The development fee for flats, terraced houses and maisonettes will be €1.24 per square metre as against the current fee of €163.06 for the entire building for flats, terraced houses and maisonettes respectively.

For villas, the distinction between semi-detached villas in the old fees structure is being done away with, and all kinds of villas will pay a higher rate of €7.29 per square metre of development.

At present, detached villas pay a development permit of €2,3329.37 for the whole building, a semi-detached villas pay a development permit of €1,747.03 for the whole building, while a semi-detached unit in a two-dwelling unit will pay a development permit of €582.34 for each unit and a fully-detached unit in a two-dwelling unit will pay a development permit of €815.28 for each unit.

For farmhouses, the development free will also be of €7.29 per square metre as against the current development fee €1,747.03 for the whole unit.

Garages will pay a development fee of €5.95 per square metre of development as against the €69.88 paid currently for each garage.

For satellite dishes above 2m of diameter and other telecommunication antenna will pay a flat application fee of €150.00 for each satellite dish as against the present fee of €27.95 for each satellite dish irrespective of dish size.

The rates will be calculated by the applicant’s architect and online payment of the fees will be made at the same time that the application is filed. The Legal Notice will be published in the Government Gazette on 16 July 2010, and the new fees will be effective from the same date.

Moreover, a screening fee of €50 will be paid for each development application that is filed with MEPA as from the same date.

For commercial applications, the development applications will continue to be calculated according to size, but will be calculated per square metre rather than per every 50 square metres as at present.