Developers deny increased efficiency in processing of development permits

The Malta Developers Association was "surprised" by MEPA's declaration that there has been increased efficiency in the processing of development permits.

The association was reacting to comments made on Friday by the chairman of MEPA, Austin Walker. Addressing the press during the presentation of MEPA's annual review, Walker said MEPA is implementing successfully its reform where this year it processed the "absolute majority" of each planning application within 12 weeks.

But the association has hit out at Walker, saying he "has arrived to this conclusion by ignoring the fact that the number of development applications submitted to MEPA this year is only a fraction of the number in previous years".

It added that MEPA's requests from applicants at pre-submission stage has shifted the time for the collection of this information to this stage when applications are still not registered and not considered as submitted by MEPA.

"He [Walker] has also ignored that the current economic climate in the property market has led to a large decrease in applications for substantial developments," the Association said. "The situation has deteriorated so much that, unfortunately, the citizen has given up trying to approach MEPA."

The association acknowledged that MEPA has shown it is ready to consider revising certain procedures to improve its efficiency. "However, MEPA then drags its feet before putting these changes into practice."

On the decision where government is being invoiced by MEPA for services it provides, the association said this was an admission of failure, "of the MEPA reform heralded with the announcement that MEPA was going to be self-sufficient and would no longer need a government subvention."