There are many things I cannot understand about the decisions and workings of our planning authority but to describe them all would take too long. However, I would like to pick on one recent decision made that is beyond my comprehension. Indeed, I would love someone in authority at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to answer this article so that, maybe, I can be enlightened.
A property market in any country is a very fluid thing. By virtue of being fluid, it can weave and sway in line with market demands. That is if the relevant authorities are following the market trends and acting accordingly.
In developed countries, a property market and the type of sales therein, and how many property projects start each month, can also show very clearly the prevailing state and financial health of a country, which can then help the government determine what decisions and what direction to take for the future.
Sometimes, the first- and second-time buyer's market is strong, as is at present, and sometimes the luxury market is strong, as it was for the last few years and will be again in the near future. Whatever segment of the market is strong creates a demand for a certain type of property. These last few years, because of many circumstances, some fortunate and some unfortunate, a large market has been created for one-bedroom apartments. These are purchased for many reasons. People buy them to rent out to the many individuals coming to Malta to work or holiday. Tourists buy them as holiday homes. Youngsters buy them to live in; so do single people and single parents. Blocks of on- bedroom apartments sell like hotcakes and at prices that most people can afford.
So what happens?
Mepa issued a directive that only 20 per cent of any block of apartments can have one bedroom.
Many people reading this article will know that when living in a block of apartments it is infinitely better if all the dwellings there are of the same type and size.
This means that the buyers or tenants will be roughly of the same standard and with similar lifestyles. More harmony is thus ensured.
Mix one-bedroom with three-bedroom flats and you have different lifestyles and the possibility of potential disquiet.
Today there are many three-bedroom apartments, possibly too many, and nowhere near enough of the one-bedroom units for which there is such a great demand.
These one-bedroom apartments are especially popular in the St Julians area. This is a holiday area and a residential area for mainly younger people.
There is already, and will be even more, car parking spaces available for the owners or tenants, so one-bedroom apartments should definitely be encouraged in this area or type of area. Why not?
The planning authority should definitely plan for the future and make sure that all properties to be built will be attractive and beneficial to our country. But they should also be aware of market trends and fashion their policies accordingly.
Before I close I would like to make just one more observation.
It was decided by someone at Mepa that buildings under construction must be covered in order to contain the dust emitted.
Fine, that is an admirable decision, but I wonder whether it is more visually acceptable to see a building under construction or else see a huge green net full of holes hanging down the façade and flapping in the wind.
The idea is a good one. Of course, the public must be protected from the building debris but surely a proper cover should be used by the developers. In addition the planning authority should ensure the site is not an eyesore.