Thursday, 8th January 2009 - 12:43CET

MEPA approves lower planning gain for pre-cast plant

A developer saw his planning gain reduced from €114,450 to €68,670 this morning after he asked the Malta Environment and Planning Authority board to reconsider.

The planning gain is to be paid on a pre-cast plant in Ta’ Qali, which had been sanctioned in October.

Developer Michael Attard said he requested Mepa to reconsider the planning gain in November. He told the board this morning that he could not pay the amount requested especially in view of the current financial crisis.

He was finding it very difficult to get by especially since 300 employees depended on him. He called upon board chairman Austin Walker to find a solution especially since he had applied for a permit three years ago.

Mr Attard said that he bought the equipment for the new pre-cast plant two years ago but was not yet using it.

He also complained that he was not given enough notice to pay the planning gain.

The case officer explained that the planning gain was calculated on €25 euros per square metre.

The board approved the Mr Attard’s request and reduced the planning gain to €15 per square metre.

It said that this could be made in three equal payments, the first immediately and the other two on a yearly basis.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Mario Cassar (on 9/1/09)

Without entering in the merit of such case, I felt I should point out that the term which was supposed to be used to describe Mr.Attard was 'EMPLOYER' and not 'DEVELOPER'. The term developer should have given the impression that Mr.Attard is doing some kind of speculation whilst I understood that this was not the case. He is simply investing to safeguard his employees' living......about 300 in total....not a joke.

In the case of any developer risking his involvement

R.Gauci (on 8/1/09)

Tiftakru xi hadd kien qal iggudikawni b'dak li naghmel? Fejn hi r-riforma fil-Mepa sur Prim?

Onorevoli David Agius tippruvax tghatti x-xemx bl-gharbiel!!

Philip Mifsud MP (on 8/1/09)

I definately agree with Byorn Bonello, and without entering in the merits of this case or some other case, it is high time that the amounts due to MEPA as Planning Gain are regulated and not decided arbitrary depending on the mood of the desicion maker at the time of deciding the amount. This also applies for the amounts requested as Bank Guarantee. Previous experience shows that, in both circomstances, similar cases were requested extreemly different amounts to be paid.

Marco Cremona (on 8/1/09)

Tajba wkoll !!!!

Can I get a discount on my parking fine because I'm expecting a heftier electricity bill this quarter and cannot buy my wife the birthday present I intended to buy?

How ridiculous can it get?

@David Agius MP. I think you should get MEPA to revoke its absurd decision and force the contractor to pay the full amount so that the people from your constituency will get some noteworthy respite from the environmental damage forced upon them by the construction lobby, with the assistance of the ever-obliging MEPA and your government.

N.B. 1. I hope the amounts will be paid in cash and not in trees in some 34U campaign.

N.B. 2. I hope the Prime Minister will not add insult to injury and go to inaugurate the contractor's plant and heap praise on the entrapreneurial merits of the contractor and the construction sector, that ''motor of Malta's economy' (sic)

c.camilleri (on 8/1/09)

@david aguis mp. You should in the first place have worked for the removal of this illegal plant from the vicinity of your village u mhux tipprova ssewwi l-isbal bil-qara ahmar.Planning permits outside the development zone should never be sanctioned by Mepa whether one is a big shot or not. Now it has become common for businessmen who build outside development zone to just buy their way out. . We were promised a change for the better Mepa before the election. But it seems this monster will not change.

Ray Sultana (on 8/1/09)

Another shameful decision by Mepa!

The speculators have just been assured that they can abuse planning regualtions, ruin the environment with horrendous projects and then use the financial crisis as an excuse to get away with murder.

The next logical step to expect now is for developer to use the 'saved' money to add more concrete to our islands.

Mepa, you are responsible for the destruction of our country.

Muscat.Pat (on 8/1/09)

It is evident that the hostility to planning law is emanting from P.N in power because of political expedience. We had 4500 planning permits outside the development zone since 2003, and this trend will continue to accelerate until 3 days before the election, where all laws will be broken loose in a very brazen and crude manner. Planning boards have become the politcal sieve of the Nationalist Party and those responsible have a lot to answer to our children, and children's children! A pre-caste plant in the middle of the "national park"!

J Azzopardi (on 8/1/09)

@Steve Rogers. Absolutely spot on! So we are expected to believe that the current financial situation is a crisis when it comes to paying the Planning Gain but not a crisis when it comes to to opening a new pre-cast plant!

Bjorn Bonello (on 8/1/09)

Without entering in the merits of the case, I feel it is about time that the regime of planning gain mechanism is regulated and not arbitrary applied. There seems to be no protocol. Some developments are being charged planning gain on a whim in order to quell the Local Council or the public and not because the development per se had an impact on the surroundings. Other developments where being charged about €7 per metre, so again without entering in the merits of the case I still feel MEPA got a ‘good deal’ at €15…We must stop thinking that entrepreneurs have endless amount of cash!!! They take the risks and they employ the people. Yes there are a few greedy cowboys but that is why we need a strong regulator with a clear vision, who takes informed decision. MEPA should not haggle with policy it should either stick to its principles and policy objectives or go on a health comprehensive policy review seeking to make it realistic,simpler, quicker and clearer.
Don’t forget that the economic crisis ignited because of a slump in the property market so I would be very cautious for what to wish.

Steve Rogers (on 8/1/09)

Further to this, the developement was sanctioned,that means the developer broke the law and built without a permit or outside what was allowed in the permit. The overall award for breaking the law was giving way.

Honorable Prime Minister, you have your work cut out for you. MEPA is setting the example, break the law and get rewarded!

Steve Rogers (on 8/1/09)

If MEPA can lower its fees for the rich it surely can do the same for the less fortunate. Now that it has charged a lower fee, it should do so to others otherwise it will be showing its true colors by pandering to the developers and not to the environment.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander. We are all suffering under this recession and the last thing we need is for the rich to get richer by using the recession as an excuse

GEORGE CUTAJAR (on 8/1/09)

I think that the first road to gain from this 'Planning Gain' should be the lower part of Triq il-Linja which has become unbearable thanks to the heavy commercial vehicles which pass through it constantly and in breach of traffic directions - this apart from other commuters from other towns and villages who , on a daily basis, use this narrow road as a by-pass.

If I were you David I would not hope to much. I have been trying for many years to rectify the situation, spoke to too many ministers, MP's, Chairmen etc. but all in vain. If you do succeed you deserve to go to heaven.

David Agius MP (on 8/1/09)

I hope, and I will do my very best, to convince MEPA so that part of this money will be used to help the people of Attard from traffic and environmental problems caused by the granting of development permits.

MEPA approves lower planning gain for pre-cast plant

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