The developers’ association welcomed the government’s proposal to separate Mepa’s environment and planning functions.

“The two functions are important and it makes more sense that one should be independent from the other,” the Malta Developers’ Association said.

Stressing the need of safeguarding the environment, it said that any development in outside zones should be the “exception” and only allowed when justified by “sound projects” that were sustainable and could not be sited elsewhere.

Among the proposed changes is a fast-track system whereby building permits in development zones would be approved in two months if these conform to policy requirements.

It is being proposed that building permits are approved by a newly-formed Development Planning Authority. The developers’ association said it was satisfied that the government accepted its proposal to reintroduce the system of outline permits. It also noted that, following the reform, the government planned to address the problem of excessive red tape that discouraged so many people.

“If it works well, the system should lead the new authority to start working efficiently and in a positive way,” the association said.

It found the permit appeal procedure disappointing, saying it stopped development until the case was decided, adding that it should never be abused by those who wanted to hamper develop-ment “capriciously”.

It was being proposed that appeal tariffs would be drastically reduced to make the procedure more accessible to all. Legal bodies such as the National Council for Disabled People and the environment authority would also have a right to appeal any decision.