Streets in urban conservation areas in 32 localities will fall in four different categories depending on the architectural value, quality and condition of buildings' façades.
The categorisation, launched yesterday for consultation purposes, aims to ensure the conservation of the higher quality streetscapes while enhancing the quality of others through sensitive and compatible interventions, Anthony Ellul, from the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, said.
While outlining the proposed process to non-governmental organisations, Mr Ellul explained how streets in the urban conservation areas, marked in four local plans, would be divided into categories A, B+, B or C.
Streets marked as A would include those with the highest quality buildings with strong historical value and unique architecture, such as churches and convents.
On the other end of the spectrum, streets in the C category would be of the lowest quality (within the conservation areas) where there had been some form of redevelopment but where there remained an element of quality architecture to be conserved.
Mr Ellul said the categorisation was done on a street basis, except when specific buildings, like chapels, deserved an A classification. He elaborated that categories dealt with façades and did not go into the buildings' interiors. Streets that fall under category A will be protected against changes to the façades and the construction of additional floors.
In the case of B+ buildings, the façade will remain untouched but additional floors may be considered and in B buildings minor alterations to the façade can also be considered.
In the case of C classifications, buildings may be considered for demolition but the replacement structure must respect the rest of the streetscape.
To come up with the classifications, a Mepa team went through a street-by-street analysis of the urban conservation areas in four of Malta's local plans: the South Malta Local Plan (Għaxaq, Gudja, Kirkop, Luqa, Mqabba, Marsascala, Paola, Qrendi, Safi, Siġġiewi, Tarxien, Żabbar, Żejtun, Żebbuġ, Żurrieq); the Marsaxlokk Bay Local Plan (Birżebbuġa, Marsaxlokk); the Central Malta Local Plan (Ħamrun, Attard, Lija, Balzan, Mosta, Naxxar, Sta Venera, Birkirkara, Għargħur, Qormi); and the North West Local Plan (Dingli, Mġarr, Mellieħa, Rabat, St Paul's Bay).
Mepa chairman Austin Walker said the categorisation, which was already included in the local plans for Gozo and the North Harbour, will provide tools for enforcement and continuity in the processing of applications.
It will be put forward to local councils for consultation next week, he said.