MFCC tent to become permanent with government lease

The planning status of the tent, which hosts various concerts and the annual trade fair, is still that of a “temporary structure” whose permit has to be renewed every couple of years.

But a year ago the Malta Environment and Planning Authority started discussing  changes to its policy regulating development in Ta’ Qali to make the fairs and exhibition facilities permanent.

A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry told MaltaToday the government still owns the land and MFCC occupy the land under “an encroachment permit”.

MFCC qualified for this permit after a “call for interests” was issued by the then Ministry of Urban Development and Roads.

MFCC pays a yearly encroachment fee of €8,500 to the government. No amount is due to be paid to government at present.  

Although the government does not intend to sell the land it is considering granting the land on emphyteusis “under the conditions already established in the call for interests.”

The Ta’ Qali action plan, approved in 2006, said the indoor trade fair was a “stop-gap measure” in view of the expiry of the lease of land at Naxxar, which was traditionally used for trade fairs.

The plan proposed an alternative site in Ta’ Qali on abandoned agricultural land next to the National Stadium for a permanent convention and exhibition centre.

The development was to be regulated by very strict planning rules, including a maximum height limit of 10 metres and that only 32% of the site was to be built up. 

Moreover, the temporary  tent was not to be allowed for more than two years after the approval of the plan in 2006.

But the local plan allowed MEPA to grant a  “one-time only extension” if the proposed  convention and exhibition centre was not yet operational.

In 2010, MEPA admitted the convention centre could not be developed “without a significant visual impact.”

Plans submitted in 2007 by MFCC Ltd proposed a maximum height of 17 metres, with an underground multi-storey car park to cater for both the stadium and the nearby convention centre.

MEPA has now identified this site for public enjoyment facilities, while retaining the present site for the trade fair.

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