Reliving the run-up to 1992

Abstract

With the raging debate on the Individual Investor Programme scheme monopolising headlines and coffee shop discussions, few might have realised that the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board recently approved the slew of proposed Outside Development Zone policy amendments. This despite the stack of legitimate objections to the amendments on the grounds that they will lead to a proliferation of unjustified developments in ODZ areas. There were only three dissenting voices on the Mepa board to the ushering in of this madness. The timing of the approval was not judicious, and anomalous, at best, as it comes against the backdrop of a policy vacuum. In fact, there is currently no overarching regulatory plan for the Maltese islands since the 20-year lifespan of the previous Structure Plan expired in 2012, and we are currently in the interim period which should lead to the approval of the next Magna Carta to regulate planning and development - the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development (Sped).