When assessing applications for development permission in accordance with the policies in Policy and Design Guidance on Agriculture, Farm Diversification and Stables, the Authority shall, first, determine whether the proposed development is acceptable or not in principle according to the established procedure.

Step 4: Mitigation measures and alternative solutions

There are various general policies, dealing either with the principle or the details of development, which allow consideration of acceptable mitigation measures and/or alternative solutions. Also, some general policies make provision for limited exceptions where, despite of negative impacts, the development could still be permitted under specific conditions. Where specified in the general policies, the Authority should request the applicant to submit acceptable alternative solutions and/or mitigation measures in order to minimise or cancel adverse impacts.

However, mitigation measures are not always an option for consideration. In order to determine whether mitigation measures would make a proposal acceptable or not, the Authority should have regard to the relevant policy objectives and the outcome of the assessments carried out in accordance with steps 1, 2 and 3 above. For example, when assessing proposals in rural areas which are relatively unaffected by development (or modern-type development), the Authority should, first, have regard to primary policy considerations, such as:

• the issue of whether new development (or further development) should be allowed in the area;

• the issue of subsequent pressures for future developments in the area,

• which may result as a consequence of the development in question.

Other considerations, such as the submission of a suitable landscaping scheme to minimise the visual impact of the proposal, should be regarded as secondary issues.

This policy may be viewed on www.mepa.org.mt.