Planning amnesty in the offing

The Planning Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Johann Buttigieg has confirmed that a legal notice aimed at regularising planning infringements in urban areas will be issued for public consultation.

The “regularization” will be limited to illegal developments inside development zones and not outside development zones (ODZ).

The regularization will also apply to developments carried out before a certain date yet to be identified.

Buttigieg said developments that have a negative impact on the environment or neighbouring residents will not be regularised.

He also confirmed that the PA will again tweak the development zones, by adding new ODZ areas while taking away an equivalent area of already protected areas from the development zone.

Buttigieg was non-committal on whether this process will be completed by the next general election.

Buttigieg also gave details on the new “summary procedure” that allows permits for up to 16 apartments to be issued without a public hearing, and a consultation period of two weeks instead of three. Case officers will present a “summary report” to the chairperson of the PA’s Environment Planning Commission, a post presently occupied by Elizabeth Ellul, who will be taking the final decision on each permit.