Expired planning permits issued after August 2006 have automatically been extended until March next year, Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia said this morning.

The policy targets some 265 planning permits granted between 2006 and 2008 whose five-year term has expired or is about to lapse.

Dr Farrugia said this move was a stop gap measure targeting developers who may have found it difficult to pursue their investment when the financial crisis struck in 2008.

It is also intended to provide a temporary solution for expired permits until the planning reform is concluded, he added. "If the split between the planning and environment functions of MEPA, including a holistic planning reform, is not in place by next year we will consider another extension."

Dr Farrugia said extension will enable developers to go ahead with their work without the need to go through the planning process all over again.

The decision fulfils an electoral pledge and follows a reduction in planning fees soon after the election.

FAA DISAPPOINTED

The environment NGO Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar (FAA) said this announcement followed MEPA’s misguided new policy to allow hotels to build an additional two floors, and the Government’s encouragement of land reclamation.

"It seems clear that this Government is determined to fulfil all pre-election promises to the development sector, while ignoring its obligation to protect public health. This also flies in the face of warnings from the IMF and the EU that Maltese banks are already over-dependent on the construction sector," the NGO said.

It said it was particularly concerned about the automatic renewal of abusive permits where the original permit was granted on wrongful application of policy.

"Promoting the interests of one sector, at the cost of the nation’s long-term economic, social and environmental interest is short-sighted and ultimately damaging," it said.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com