MEPA to cut bureaucracy in change-of-use for permits

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has launched an online facility to view all documentations for planning applications, as well as a public consultation on legal notice class orders.

MEPA chairman Austin Walker said the authority was specifying what class orders had been introduced and reducing the bureaucracy to switch from one class order to the other.

"The authority is moving on the right track and it has improved the efficiency of its operations and handling. I feel that the mentality of flexibility is placing MEPA on a platform to constantly improve its services," Walker said.

CEO Ian Stafrace said the new online service for e-application will be accessible through the MEPA website, and documentation will be available to everyone and not just to applicants and architects.

"Users will be able to follow the movement and contents of a file so that everybody can view the consultation, answers, drawings and replies from government authorities before it goes in for evaluation and eventually a permit."

Users will need a government e-ID obtainable from the Passport Office to access the system.

All details of the proposed development will be included in the online version of the planning application document, enabling the public to analyse any proposed development in detail, ensuring a more transparent and efficient service offered by MEPA. The extensive documents viewed online will go back to only June 2012.

The public can also view all correspondence between MEPA and its consultees online, these include proposed plans of elevations and sections and any objections that are registered against the proposed development.

The second measure will simplify the permit procedure when applying for a change of use in planning permits.

This will affect changes of use from food and drink, to retail outlets; floor space within within shopping and business complexes; from shops to offices, and offices to dwellings; showrooms into supermarkets or schools turned into day nurseries.