The planning authority yesterday said it had been stopped from clearing a large recreational and open storage area built illegally in an outside development zone in Marsalforn, after it was served with an injunction.
The area, enclosed by a 30-metre boundary wall, contained a caravan, a boat, a makeshift structure and a barbeque area with tables and chairs.
It will not be cleared for at least another two weeks, when the case goes to court, the Malta Environment and Planning Authority said.
The request for an injunction was made by the man responsible for erecting the illegal structures, it added.
In a similar case, the authority can now go ahead with demolition works after a court dismissed an injunction over a house built illegally outside the development zone in Betti Valley, near Gudja.
Last year, Mepa issued a stop and enforcement notice on the site after its inspectors observed work going on. Investigations revealed an old building had been demolished and was being rebuilt as a house, without a permit.
In the same month, the landowner submitted a planning application. Then, while the application was being processed, a first floor started to be built in breach of the stop and enforcement notice, the authority said.