Updated 3.45pm - Mepa has turned down an application to sanction infringements in a Żejtun farmhouse owned by Pada Builders Ltd, a company owned by Equal Opportunities Minister Helena Dalli and her husband.

The application was unanimously refused by the EPC Board even though the case officer's original  recommendation for refusal had been changed to 'grant' a permit.

Unusually, there was no debate or reason given for the board's decision to refuse the recommendation to grant the permit.  The Dallis have the right to appeal.

There have so far been three postponements of the hearing. Since the last scheduled hearing earlier this month, postponed because Mr Dalli was indisposed, the case officer’s recommendation has changed from a refusal of the permit to an approval to sanction development on site that occurred without a permit.

The development had breached the original permit given on several counts and Mr Dalli was served an enforcement notice. The farmhouse came into the spotlight after this newspaper reported workers on site despite the enforcement notice. The property is in an Outside Development Zone.

Mr and Ms Dalli had said they were not aware workmen were on site even though their residential home is a few metres away. Mr Dalli had said the house was on a promise of sale agreement and in the care of the would-be buyer.

While the Mepa application to sanction illegal development on site is in his name, the property is owned by one of his companies – Pada Builders Limited.

The Opposition has argued that the planning authority should have dismissed the hearing because of the recent infringements. Mepa countered there was no further “development” on site.

The bone of contention is what is considered to be an infringement once an enforcement notice has been served, as is the case with the farmhouse. 

The Nationalist Party said yesterday it expected the planning authority to make “the right choice” today – one that was in the public interest rather than allow itself to be used as a political tool.

“It is clear that in recent months Mepa has been used as a political tool to serve members of government rather than safeguarding the environment. This is not the way forward for the planning authority,” the Opposition said.

In a statement this afternoon, it said Mepa's decision confirmed that it had been right all along.

 

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