Mepa has over 4,200 pending cases

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority determined 875 applications in the final two months of last year.

In November and December, the authority received 1,612 new applications and the net pending caseload at the end of the year stood at 4,269.

During November, Mepa processed 71 notifications of development, which do not require a formal application. Thirty-eight notifications of development were processed last month.

In November, 108 stop and enforcement notices were issued, 76 in Malta and 32 in Gozo. In the same month, 114 enforcement cases were closed, 81 in Gozo and 33 in Malta. Sixty-six enforcement cases were sanctioned by the issue of a sanctionable permit.

Another 41 cases were resolved as the owners decided to remove the illegal developments themselves following enforcement action. In November seven cases were withdrawn by Mepa. The Complaints Office received 29 cases in November, which were all resolved without the need of issuing an enforcement notice as owners complied with instructions given by Mepa enforcement officers.

In December, 49 stop and enforcement notices were issued, 29 in Malta and 20 in Gozo. In the same month, 13 enforcement cases were closed, four in Malta and nine in Gozo. Ten enforcement cases were sanctioned by the issue of a sanctionable permit.

Another case was resolved when the owner decided to remove an illegal development following enforcement action and two enforcement cases were closed following payment due for direct actions carried out in previous years.

Seven cases received at the Complaints Office were resolved without the need of issuing enforcement notices because owners followed instructions by Mepa enforcement officers.