ODZ hype

Abstract

Outside Development Zone (ODZ) appears to be the fashionable term at the moment. Most of the views expressed on the subject so far have rightly underscored the Malta Environment and Planning Authority's responsibilities in fuelling the current ODZ hype by approving certain applications that fall into this category. However, few, if any, correspondents have mused over the shared responsibilities of the applicant. After all, he or she is the one who sets the ball rolling by vying for ODZ sites in the first place. And while admonishing those responsible for the ODZ abuse is laudable, one should also consider what one would do if presented with the same circumstances. My gut feeling is that the penchant for an exclusive dwelling is so mouth-watering to the Maltese ethos that most locals would not give a second thought to developing an ODZ site.