The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has been requested by Government to draw up an environment and development brief for the Marsaxlokk inner harbour area.

The objective is to set development parameters with an emphasis on tourism for the regeneration of the area which seek to compliment, capitalise on and enhance its environmental value.

The site area is covered by three primary policies in the Marsaxlokk local plan.

MEPA invited individuals and organisations to send preliminary submissions to the director of Planning, Inner Harbour Area (Marsaxlokk), Forward Planning Unit, PO Box 200, Marsa GPO 01, e-mail: inner.harbour@mepa.org.mt by October 4.

The Marsaxlokk Local Plan can be viewed on the MEPA's website.

The authority has also been requested to issue for public consultation a classification strategy to replace that published in 1994.

The aim is to ensure that the range of land uses and activities within each class accurately reflects the impact on the context of that class while remaining wide enough to encompass the changing needs of a diverse economy in the light of experience gained over the years and the implications of planning decisions on their surroundings.

Other aims are to reflect socio-economic and environmental changes that took place since the enactment of the 1994 legal notice and to facilitate changes of use between different classes which would result in a reduction of environmental impacts.

The proposed Development Planning (Use Classes) Order 2013 can be viewed on the MEPA's website.

Representations are to be made in writing to the director of planning, Development Planning (Use Classes) Order, Forward Planning Division, PO Box 200, Marsa GPO 01, e-mail: classesorder@mepa.org.mt by October 18.