There are thousands of abandoned buildings in Malta.

Encouraging speculative development rather than the regeneration of existing buildings was an “easy way out” that ran counter to the nation’s long-term interest, environmental group Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar has warned.

Arguing that the existing property glut – there are some 75,000 vacant properties across Malta and Gozo – was crippling developers, FAA spokeswoman Astrid Vella called on the Government to make a concerted effort to reuse existing buildings.

But while leading development lobbyist Michael Falzon said he agreed with building regeneration schemes, he argued that many vacant properties were vacant for a reason, and that the property glut had indirectly led to higher building standards.

It seems clear that the extra revenue is expected to come from a boost in speculative development

The Government said last week that it would waive all planning fees related to the rehabilitation of buildings in old village cores, as part of a decision to cut all planning fees by an average of 25 per cent.

While Ms Vella welcomed the rehabilitation initiative as positive, she also noted that Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia had repeatedly argued that increased planning applications would make up for a shortfall in revenue caused by the reduced rates.

Given that rehabilitation projects would not be subject to any fees in most cases, “it seems clear that the extra revenue is expected to come from a boost in speculative development,” Ms Vella said.

Increasing the number of buildings without addressing the problem of sub-standard and abandoned buildings would only increase health and environmental problems, Ms Vella concluded.

Malta Development Association president Mr Falzon felt that criticism of Government policy was still premature. “It’s all conjecture,” he said, arguing that many policies were still at a discussion stage.

“People tend to overlook the fact that the property glut had the indirect effect forcing developers to build units to a very high standard. Stopping any more permits from being issued would simply bump up the price of poorly-built property,” he argued.

Meanwhile, rumours continue to circulate concerning political jostling within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. According to Mepa sources, senior case officer Johann Buttigieg has assumed a role as makeshift CEO within the authority.

Mr Buttigieg, who Planning Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia has dubbed his “point of reference” at Mepa, is ostensibly serving as a point of contact between authority officials and the Government.

But insiders say that over the past weeks he has assumed an increasingly proactive role, culminating in the resignation of former CEO Ian Stafrace earlier this week.

According to sources, Mr Buttigieg has been seen entering Mepa board meetings and ordering the transfer of two of Dr Stafrace’s aides, further fuelling rumours that he is being groomed to take over the CEO role.

One architect who spoke to The Sunday Times on condition of anonymity declined to enter into the merits of Mr Buttigieg’s sudden elevation within Mepa, but commented positively about his professionalism. “He gets things done, without ever overstepping the line or taking shortcuts,” they said.

Another architect spoke similarly, saying Mr Buttigieg knew the planning authority “inside-out” and that he was “one of the few people in that organisation to actually know what they’re talking about”.