The government and the Planning Authority must do something now to tighten policies and protect Malta's fast-dwindling built heritage and its countryside, an NGO has insisted.

During the recent annual general meeting, members of Din l-Art Ħelwa approved four hard-hitting resolutions: they called for a master plan for tall buildings; they protested against the government’s failure to publish local plans; criticised the slow rate of scheduling of historic and traditional buildings and street-scapes and  the "unscrupulous abuse" of the 2014 rural guidelines.

With regards to tall buildings, the members said the government needed to tighten the loopholes in the floor area ratio policy, making sure they were assessed by means of serious visual studies and planning aids, and not case by case as was happening when individual projects are under review.

The government and the planning authority were also urged to step up the pace in the scheduling of buildings, to ensure protection is given to Malta's fast disappearing traditional and historic architecture, which is being swallowed up by development.

DLĦ demanded that demolitions are halted immediately, especially in urban conservation areas, where utmost protection should be given - often, it said, not even the facades were  being retained.

DLĦ demanded that demolitions are halted immediately, especially in urban conservation areas, where utmost protection should be given

"We feel that the safeguards in place to protect cultural heritage are being undermined by this drive to re-develop at all costs, and that the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage hasn't got enough resources and ultimately enough strength to take the necessary steps to stop this. These concerns are echoed by other heritage bodies and NGOs, and more collaboration is envisaged for the future to address these issues,’’ president Maria Grazia Cassar said.

She expressed DLĦ’s serious concerns for the “terrible short-sightedness” witnessed during the recent approvals of projects such as the development of The Cloisters and others, such as the demolition of one of the oldest houses in St Julians and the Villino Zammit development, which are being made in the name of tourism.

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