Mepa fines developers in breach of regulations

The net pending caseload at the planning authority last month stood at 4,625.

Mepa said in a statement that in February, it decided 396 applications and received 400 new ones.

It processed 57 notifications of development which did not require a formal application.

Mepa also issued 10 contraventions to developers on sites that were breaching construction site management regulations.

The highest number of offences related to the lack of hoarding, screening around building sites and affixing of notice board on site.

These fines amounted €11,643.78. Inspectors also issued 16 other contraventions, amounting to €6,172.73, to individuals that were found breaching the Littering Act, including two serious the fine for which amounted to €2,329.37 each.

Mepa said that in February 200 stop and enforcement notices were issued, 160 in Malta and 40 in Gozo.

The enforcement section within MEPA closed 36 cases, 28 in Malta and eight in Gozo. Eight other enforcement cases were sanctioned by a planning permit while another 28 cases were resolved by the owners’ decision to remove their illegal development and comply with the enforcement notice.