Mepa should ditch unacceptable applications, PM says

The Prime Minister made a case for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to be able to ditch permit applications that immediately appear to be unacceptable.

Speaking at a business breakfast yesterday on the regulator's reform, Lawrence Gonzi stressed that Mepa should not waste time and resources on applications that architects know would not be approved.

The suggestion, which echoes proposals made by environmental NGOs, attracted a negative response from the architects present who questioned who would decide this before applicants are even allowed to make their case.

However, Dr Gonzi stuck to his argument and drew an analogy between architects and lawyers, pointing out that lawyers should be able to tell clients they have a losing case.

He even suggested that applications outside development zones should start with a refusal, placing the onus upon the applicant to convince Mepa otherwise.

While previous reforms at Mepa dealt with the length of processing a permit, this one would be looking at sustainable development, he said, pointing out that the whole change is linked to the new energy bills.

"How can people be persuaded to install double glazing, insulation on their roofs and photovoltaic systems if they are not paying for what they consumed," he asked.

He said Mepa was one of the most transparent authorities in the country with data on planning applications available from the comfort of one's own home through internet.

However, there is room for more transparency in the reasoning behind decisions that are taken, he said, qualifying that he felt some of the criticism levelled at the authority was not fair because there are positive aspects about it that need to be praised and acknowledged.