[WATCH] Government reverses planning exemption for health projects

Government reverses planning exemption for health projects • Video by Raphael Farrugia

Parliamentary secretary for health Chris Fearne said that the decision to reverse a legal notice that exampted health projects from the need of seeking planning permission and Environment Impact Assessment regulations were partially a response to criticism and concerns voiced by civil society over the environmental impact of ‘unchecked’ developments and extensions of hospital sites.

Last year, on the eve of Santa Marija feast, government amended the law to exempt any planning permit for any health related development in proximity of Mater Dei, St Luke's and Gozo General Hospital.

But Fearne said that government “believes that the health and care of our patients is paramount, but it is also important to respect the environment around these facilities," adding that the government was very sensitive to environmental concerns and the country’s obligations to respect EU regulations in this regard.

Fearne added that the decision also followed the results of an ARUP report into the quality of concrete and structures used throughout the hospital.  

“The report, which was extended to the rest of the hospital after a number of issues were found in the Accident and Emergency department, showed that substantial changes will be necessary in order for us to have the extensions we had planned,” he said adding that the report would be made public in the near future.

Fearne further highlighted the necessity of enlarging the hospital to better fit the needs of the population.

“Among the planned changes, we feel we need to have an extended maternity and pediatric section,” Fearne said.

He explained that these extensive changes had led to government to believe that a number of impact assessments were necessary before going ahead with the changes.

In a statement issued earlier on, the government said that the two legal notices published about developments on the boundaries of hospitals would amend those published in 2015. The previous legal notices had effectively given the government power to carry out extension projects of hospitals without having to apply for Planning Authority permits and Environment Impact Assessments.

However, the amendments will revert back to original regulations, signifying that the hospital will have to apply for a full development permit as well as undergo environmental impact assessments before it goes on with any plans to extend the facility.

The statement added that the government would be announcing development projects that would increased bed space and parking spaces among other new facilities, to Mater Dei hospital to address shortcomings in the structures  when the facility had first been constructed.