MEPA to conclude ODZ rationalisation process

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority is giving owners of land included in the 2006 rationalisation exercise - which extended the development zones for the Maltese islands - up to the end of June 2013 to present a planning application that will set the planning parameters for development in these formerly outside-development zones.

Before issuing building permits, MEPA has to issue a planning control permit setting building heights and building density for these areas. Over the past six years, MEPA processed and determined a number of planning control requests initiated by owners of land forming part of the development boundaries approved by Parliament in July 2006 as part of the local plan process.

MEPA has now issued a circular informing owners of these lands that they have till June 2013 to apply for a planning control permit. If owners fail to comply, the authority will itself take the initiative of initiating and determining the planning control process of such land following a prioritization exercise.