The Guardian of Future Generations has urged the government to put all policy initiatives on land use on hold, until a comprehensive strategy spanning for the next 20 years is drafted.

The call was made in the wake of the prospects of more development taking place on unspoilt land, increased building heights and the government’s intention to explore land reclamation projects.

Michael Zammit Cutajar, who chairs the four-member commission established through the Sustainable Development Act of 2012, expressed his concern that in a very densely populated country like Malta unspoilt land and views were a scarce resource.

These precious resources must be safeguarded now against unwarranted and irreversible intrusion

“In the interest of the future, these precious resources must be safeguarded now against unwarranted and irreversible intrusion”, he said.

The commission members envisaged the drafting of a comprehensive strategy following public consultation by the end of next year.

This would be based on economic, social and environmental assessments of different options for urban and rural development.

Once the strategy is approved and in place, all planning policies would then be reviewed to ensure that they are in confor-mity with it.

The group’s mandate is to advocate sustain-able development in public debate and in government policy, to keep Malta’s long-term economic, social and environmental interests in focus.

The Guardian’s views were expressed in a letter to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Sustainable Development, the Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and the chairman of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The members of the commission are Michael C. Bonello (former Governor of the Central Bank of Malta), Roberta Lepre (director of Victim Support Malta), Simone Mizzi (executive president of Din L-Art Ħelwa).

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