Mepa reviewing its Structure Plan policies

The planning authority is aiming to delete or update many of its policies, Ian Stafrace, its new chief executive, said yesterday.

Some of its present policies were either obsolete or conflicting, and it was embarking on a modernisation process. This follows the setting up of a commission to review its voluminous policies, which earmarked those it believed could be done away with.This process, for which there is no timeline yet, will culminate with a document to replace the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s Structure Plan, first drawn up in the 1990s.

In its recommendations, the commission had listed several of Mepa’s policies which it believed could be deleted to make the planning process faster, better and more consistent.

Addressing a monthly informal meeting with journalists, Dr Stafrace, the newly appointed CEO, said the team was in place to focus on the review, which would involve consultations with stakeholders, authorities and NGOs.

The authority will announce how the process will be conducted over the coming days. Although there are no timelines, he believes there should be a time frame for the process to be more disciplined.

This is the next phase of Mepa reform, which has so far seen the introduction of new procedures for processing development applications from the submittal stage. Among other things, these procedures include the obligatory submission of applications electronically and setting up four full-time commissions to deal with pending applications.

On the operation of these commissions, Dr Stafrace said he was satisfied with the screening process of development applications through which case officers were engaged in open discussions with applicants and their architects.