The Malta Developers Association has welcomed government plans for new public parks in Ta’ Qali and Birżebbuġa, while calling for the setting-up of a new committee to increase open spaces in built-up areas.

In a statement, the developers’ lobby said it supported the recently-announced decisions to double the size of the Ta’ Qali national park, and to undertake a large-scale afforestation project on land previously earmarked for an extension of the Freeport in Birżebbuġa.

Apart from these substantial areas being converted into large parks, the association said, smaller open spaces within urban confines were also required to provide much needed "lungs" in developed areas.

“For this possibility to become a reality, the Association of Developers feels that a concerted effort is needed, and therefore suggests the setting up of a committee in which the government, environmental NGOs and developers represented by MDA, can collaborate to find solutions for making such areas in developed localities a feasible reality,” it said in a statement.

“This committee would also involve the relative local councils when making suggestions and ensure that landowners are adequately compensated for land that may need to be taken up, if this is the case.

“MDA has been insisting on forward planning to improve the quality of life for everyone and strongly believes that open spaces in our urban environment would go a long way to achieve this.”