The building industry requires restructuring for better use to be made of the available land, AD deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo said this morning.
Addressing a news conference he said that with over 70,000 vacant residential units and some 2,500 families registered with the Housing Authority due to their requiring alternative accommodation it was obvious that all was not well.
In this sense, the Government acted correctly to cancel plans for the construction of more residential units and instead proceeded to tap the private sector by encouraging the renting out of property.
This was a measure AD applauded and encouraged.
“It is a sustainable way of implementing housing policy.”
Mr Cacopardo noted that this not always been so.
“It is to be underlined that when the 2005 census was carried out, which census revealed the existence of over 53,000 vacant properties, the government led by the PN ignored the facts which resulted.
“Instead of applying the brakes to the development of land it acted in a completely different manner. A few months after the 2005 Census it launched three measures which increased the possibilities for development.
Through the so-called rationalisation exercise land considered suitable for development was increased substantially all over Malta. The permissible heights for development were increased in various localities as a consequence throwing to the wind investments in solar energy technology made by various families as next to their properties higher buildings were constructed.
The third measure was one which facilitated the construction of penthouses when everything was already pointing towards the need to restrict such construction.
AD, Mr Cacopardo said, was insisting on the reversal of the rationalisation exercise shifting the limits of permissible development and wherever possible to reduce building heights and restrict the construction of penthouses.
AD secretary General Ralph Cassar said AD was worried about excessive urbanisation and so called “development”.
“Even here in one of the most congested and urbanised areas in Malta the building spree continues. Manoel Island ended up in private hands with more buildings instead of being turned into a green lung and historical park.
“As regards empty buildings AD is proposing targeting speculators by taxing properties from the third one onwards. This will target those keeping building empty for speculative purposes. It will also push developers into ensuring that their developments are really needed before they embark on projects. This measure can also boost the rental market.”