Environmentalists, developers clash on changes

Encouraging speculative development rather than the regeneration of existing buildings was an “easy way out” that ran counter to the nation’s long-term interest, environmental group Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar has warned. Arguing that the existing property glut – there are some 75,000 vacant properties across Malta and Gozo – was crippling developers, FAA spokeswoman Astrid Vella called on the Government to make a concerted effort to reuse existing buildings. But while leading development lobbyist Michael Falzon said he agreed with building regeneration schemes, he argued that many vacant properties were vacant for a reason, and that the property glut had indirectly led to higher building standards. The Government said last week that it would waive all planning fees related to the rehabilitation of buildings in old village cores, as part of a decision to cut all planning fees by an average of 25 per cent. While Ms Vella welcomed the rehabilitation initiative as positive, she also noted that Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia had repeatedly argued that increased planning applications would make up for a shortfall in revenue caused by the reduced rates. Given that...