The Malta Environment and Planning Authority yesterday kicked off a public consultation exercise on a new policy that would permit an investment project being proposed at Gozo General Hospital.

It said it carried out a review and drafted new planning policies which would permit the future implementation of investment projects for the overall upgrading of the hospital infrastructure and services.

In a statement, the planning authority said the review was carried out in the wake of the government’s commitment to provide higher quality health service for the public at the Gozo General Hospital.

Besides being the sole and predominant provider of health-related facilities and services in Gozo, the General Hospital in Victoria has essentially retained the same layout for decades leaving certain aspects of its infrastructure and facilities inappropriate for today’s needs.

The proposed policies include the consideration of both lateral and vertical extensions within the site.

The proposals consider the take-up of certain open areas located inside the hospital grounds for the addition of health and community services, including health tourism. The policy also clearly points out that attempts should be made to minimise the take-up for a healthy ‘open to built’ ratio to be retained.

On the height of buildings, the proposed policy allows for new and existing buildings to be built higher than the existing building height provided that there is sufficient justification for specific health facility improvement needs and the assurance of quality design.

Any height extensions will still be subject to visual assessment and simulation studies during the development application stage to ensure proposed heights do not create an unacceptable visual impact. To limit visual intrusiveness, proposals must have varying overall building heights to avoid unacceptable massing and by receding along the ridge edge.

The proposed review document and maps can be viewed on www.mepa.org.mt/public-consultation. Submissions to email address gozohospital@mepa.org.mt will be accepted by March 4.