Planning Authority (Malta)

Planning Authority
Maltese: Awtorità tal-Ippjanar
Agency overview
Formed4 April 2016 (2016-04-04)
Preceding agency
Jurisdiction Malta
HeadquartersSt Francis Ravelin, Floriana
St Martha Street, Victoria, Gozo
35°53′24.2″N 14°30′10.2″E / 35.890056°N 14.502833°E / 35.890056; 14.502833
36°02′33.6″N 14°14′48.9″E / 36.042667°N 14.246917°E / 36.042667; 14.246917
Agency executive
Websitewww.pa.org.mt

The Planning Authority (PA, Maltese: Awtorità tal-Ippjanar), sometimes still popularly mistakenly referred to as the previous MEPA, is a government agency which is responsible for land use and planning in Malta.

It was established on 4 April 2016 from the demerger of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, which also resulted in the creation of the Environment and Resources Authority.[1]

Structure

The Planning Authority consists of a number of boards and committees:[2]

  • Executive Council
  • Planning Board
  • Planning Commission
  • Agricultural Advisory Committee
  • Design Advisory Committee
  • Development Planning Fund

Criticism

The Planning Authority is often criticized by locals and NGOs for approving permits for apartment flats that are deemed uncharacteristic for Malta's traditional landscape, with the flats considered overly large and made from non-limestone materials. It is also criticized for removing old villas and other buildings, despite the local populace often protesting against this.[3][4][5][6][7][8]

References

  1. ^ Schembri, Gabriel (4 April 2016). "MEPA demerger comes into force today as Planning Authority is officially launched". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 13 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Boards and Committees". Planning Authority. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020.
  3. ^ "Planning Authority set to approve controversial application for Saqqajja Hill hotel". theshiftnews.com. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  4. ^ "Environment groups sue planning authority in Malta". Peoples Dispatch. 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  5. ^ "Controversial Naxxar project sent back to the drawing board". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  6. ^ "NGOs look to fight 'rigged' planning appeal decisions". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  7. ^ "Cottonera residents flag controversial planning applications on Facebook". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  8. ^ "Activists, residents in final appeal against ITS development". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
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