Over 4,400 pending applications at Mepa

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority determined 740 applications in January and received 883 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,427.

In the same month the authority processed 83 notifications of development which, according to the Development Notification Order 2001, do not require a formal application.

Eighty-three stop and enforcement notices were issued, 59 in Malta and 24 in Gozo.

Sixty-one enforcement cases were closed, 43 in Malta and 18 in Gozo. Of these, 49 were sanctioned and another 10 cases were resolved since the owners decided to remove the illegal development and comply with the enforcement notice.

One enforcement case was withdrawn by Mepa while another case was closed following payment due for direct action carried out in previous years.

The complaints office received 28 cases that were resolved without the need of enforcement action, since owners complied with instructions given by Mepa enforcement officers.