Environment NGO Din l-Art Helwa is pleading for good sense to prevail and for the government to rethink its policy regarding high-rise buildings in Malta.

In a statement on the eve of a Planning Authority decision on the building of four towers in Mriehel, the NGO said this will have an irreversible impact on the Maltese landscape and will change it forever.

"These massive buildings will be visible from almost the whole island and in the case of Mriehel, will rise in the direct view path between Mdina and Valletta, the two main historic features on Malta’s landscape.

"Before deciding on the specific projects for high-rise development which are being proposed around Malta, the Government should carry out a holistic masterplan for the entire island," Din l-Art Helwa said. 

In a related statement, the Civil Society Network, which is composed of various NGOs, said it would be premature for the Planning Authority to decide on the proposed major project for Mriehel tomorrow. 

"A public consultation process should first be carried out on whether Mriehel should become a location for high-rise buildings at all. This area was not included by MEPA in the draft Policy for tall buildings in 2014. Approving Mriehel as a high-rise zone without having first consulted the public is objectionable and possibly illegal," the network said. .

The network underlined the impact on the landscape and also pointed out that Mriehel’s infrastructure cannot support the size of development being proposed.

"It will place an excessive traffic burden on already congested roads and impact other infrastructure. The proposed project is estimated to generate 3,000 extra cars a day but the site will have only 1,032 parking spaces."