New regulations were announced today with the aim of addressing a number of grey areas regarding accessibility for people with mobility problems when processing planning applications.
Addressing his final news conference as Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Michael Farrugia announced a protocol regulating development planning applications in terms of "access for all requirements", in agreement with the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNPD)
Buildings having a floor space of less than 75 square metres shall remain exempted from access to all requirements. Stores and kitchens are excluded for purpose of area computation.
A new concept is that areas that pose a potential risk to disabled people by reason of the nature of the activity carried out therein are excluded from assessment. Examples are some places for industrial use such as the abattoir.
Accessibility auditing courses will also be introduced to have more people qualified to evaluate buildings' accessibility.
In case of major projects applicants may elect to appoint and independent accredited monitor to supervise works, who in turn may endorse changes without the need to halt works pending KNPD approval. The monitor shall be responsible for issuing the final compliance certificate.
A new regulation will exempt applicants from conforming to accessibility requirements when:
* The gradient of the street is 1:8
* When immediate public access consists of a flight of steps
* When vertical distance between the street or pavement and the elevated ground exceeds 1.5 metres.
The use of mechanical step climbers may be considered as a remedial solution when the vertical distance between street level and elevated ground does not exceed 1.5 metres.
No additional accessibility requirements shall be imposed on site of a existing structure where interventions had been previously approved by Mepa permit in consultation with the KNPD.
There will be an 'inclusion fund', for buildings that do not qualify to access to all requirements, which will be administered by the KNPD. The rate will be of €20 for each square metre which is not accessible up to a maximum of €5,000.
There will be a special rate in urban conservation areas, this will be reduced by half due to the additional challenges posed by old buildings and to encourage the regeneration of these areas.
It was also announced that Joe Camilleri, the head of the KNPD, would be stepping down after 20 years at the helm, and replaced by Oliver Scicluna.
Mr Camilleri stressed that the commission was not abrogating its responsibilities saying that these regulations only impact on people with mobility problems. He said that the agreement was based on mutual trust. Mr Camilleri said that applications which had failed accessibility requirements were a minority.
He also pointed out that the exemptions will be based on certain conditions which impose strict uses according to the permit.