Character appraisal as a tool to inform planning policy : Ħal Balzan as a case study

Abstract

The focus of this study is in the area of character. The study aims to understand the elements that make up character and what value the same character has in order to understand how planning policies may respect the existing context when it comes to new developments. Through literature, a method for a characterisation study was determined and the analysis was carried out for the village of Ħal Balzan. The characterisation study was carried out through the analysis of maps, through published literature about the history of the village, and through a field study. The findings of this study show that even though Ħal Balzan can be divided into three parts which have a distinctive character, within the Local Plans it is only the character of the village core that is safeguarded. This is reflected in the type of new development which is carried out in the village. The dissertation also proposes guidelines which reflect the character of the village with the hope that new developments will respect the existing context. This dissertation recommends future studies and research to be carried out in the field of character vis a vis societal indicators.