Outside development zone policy to allow new 'agritourism' buildings
Farmers to be allowed to build up to ten rooms and a swimming room in outside development zones.
Owners of agricultural land will be allowed to build new buildings which do not exceed 400 square metres, on land greater than 60 tumoli, parliamentary secretary Michael Farrugia said.
As MaltaToday reported earlier this month, the new ODZ policy will allow the development of new residential facilities on any agricultural holding greater than 60 tumoli (67,000 square metres).
The new policy has not been approved yest, but it is expected to come into force following a six week consultation process.
Launching the ODZ Policy for Public Consultation, Farrugia explained that land owners would be allowed to construct up to 10 rooms over a 400 square metres floor space. Under the guise of agritourism, owners will be allowed to develop holdings outside the development zone.
Speaking at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority offices in Floriana, Farrugia explained that the 60 tumoli rule was being applied to avoid the proliferation of agritourism resorts and limit development in the countryside.
He also pointed out that he was aware of the limited number of holdings which spread over 60 tumoli of land and thic should encourage cooperation between farmers and cooperatives.
Non-farmers can be participate, Farrugia explained, however they would need to enter into agreemnts with farmers who own agricultural land.
Yet, farmers will no longer be allowed to apply for a permit to erect smaller buildings. According to the policy approved in 2006, permission may also be granted for the erection of a single dwelling unit for an full-time farmer outside the development boundary, provided that the farmer cultivates a minimum arable land area of 30 tumoli.
The justification given in this policy was that the number of arable farms with more than 30 tumoli of registered landholdings "is very limited". Moreover, this policy was to serve as a disincentive against the fragmentation of arable farm holdings.
In Italy, agritourism was recognised in 1985. Statistics for the year 2010 reveal that just fewer than 20,000 agritourism operators in Italy have placed 200,000 beds on the tourism market - an average of 10 beds per operator.