MEPA decides 489 applications in April

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) last month decided 489 development applications and received 581 new applications. It said the net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,636.

Last month, the Authority processed 78 notifications of development, which, according to the Development Notification Order 2007, do not require a formal application.

It issued two contraventions to developers on sites that were breaching Construction Site Management Regulations. These contraventions in Zabbar and Birkirkara, were related to the lack of hoarding and screening around building sites and not affixing of notice board on-site. The fines amounted to a total of €465.86.

Inspectors also issued 36 other contraventions, amounting to €13,568.44, to individuals that were found breaching the Littering Act. In this case fines were mainly issued for the illegal depositing of refuse near a public skips.

During the same month, 71 Stop and Enforcement notices were issued, 58 in Malta and 13 in Gozo. The enforcement section within MEPA closed 32 cases, 17 in Malta and 17 in Gozo. 5 other enforcement cases were sanctioned by a planning permit while another 27 cases were resolved by the owners’ decision to remove their illegal development and comply with the enforcement notice.