Malta cannot sacrifice more land - AD

The vast number of empty dwellings should act as a warning as the government is in the process of reviewing development local plans and the rationalisation of development zones, the Green Party said.

"The number of vacant residential properties is a warning sign. With over 72,150 vacant residential units we cannot keep developing land which up till some time ago was outside the development zone," AD Deputy Chairperson Carmel Cacopardo, said during a press conference in Attard.

The press conference was held next to a piece of land which was declared as suitable for development as a result of the rationalistion exercise which the PN administration implemented in 2006.

Before the decision to include it in the rationalistion, the land was part of a green belt. However, The Greens explained that on the 13 July 2013, MEPA issued a development permit for the development of 24 garages and a store at basement level as well as 19 residential units on five floors.

Cacopardo added that "this is being done notwithstanding that 72,150 residential units in Malta are currently vacant. This is a substantial increase on the vacant residential properties in 2005 (53,136) as well as that in 1995 (35,723)."

He pointed out that Alternattiva Demokratika "disagrees that such land should be developed. Malta cannot sacrifice more land to build more residential units when the census carried out two years ago identified 72,150 vacant residential units."

There is no need to permit large-scale residential development for many years to come, Cacopardo said.

"In the context of a local plan revision AD-The Green Party is of the opinion that there still is a slight possibility to remedy the situation. This can be done by striking off the rationalisation scheme such that the land so identified is no longer developable. The quantity of available vacant residential properties should be the primary criterion on which the new local plans are based."

The Green Party secretary-general Ralph Cassar said that "the unbridled development together with the stock of vacant residential properties is the cause of unnecessary pressure on the infrastructure of localities. Attard is no exception. Funds which will be required to develop and maintain the infrastructure servicing the 72,150 vacant residential properties could have easily been utilised to service the existing infrastructure. The increase in the number of vacant properties,"

Cassar who serves on the Attard local council noted that, "in addition to creating unacceptable environmental impacts, is also a waste of public funds."