Mepa’s role in formulating policies

Setting up a strategic development unit within the Office of the Prime Minister would not mean the planning authority would lose its role in drafting and implementing environmental and planning policy, the government said yesterday.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority would continue to have a leading role in the formulation of such policies and also in the consultation process leading to them.

“The strategic direction will be set by the government on the basis of the country’s needs and complemented by suggestions received from consultations with stakeholders and the public towards ensuring the sustainable development of the islands,” it said.

The unit’s aim was to establish the strategic direction and it would be responsible for a holistic development covering all sectors and not only planning and environment.

The government is considering a staggered payment system for developers applying for a planning permit in a bid to alleviate the financial burden on them.

The need for such a system was raised during a national conference about Mepa reform in summer and again by the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU, on Tuesday.

The GRTU said it was not financially feasible for developers to fork out the whole sum when filing an application.

Welcoming the GRTU’s support for setting up two environment and planning commissions, the government voiced its commitment to revise existing policy on outside development zones, adding it would welcome suggestions from all interested parties.