The planning authority board has decided to start procedures to revoke a permit issued for development on an ODZ area in Siggiewi.
The case was first flagged by Times of Malta in December and an investigation was then launched by the Department of Agriculture.
The developer had sought and been granted planning permission for the demolition of a disused farm to be replaced by a residential dwelling.
The permit was granted by the Environment and Planning Commission in September 2015 after the applicant presented an official letter from the Agriculture Department confirming that the farm was in operation prior to 2000.
Both the Rural Policy and Design Guidance (2014) and the previous Agriculture, Farm Diversification and Stables Policy allow a change of use from a derelict farm to a residential dwelling, once it is proved that the farm had been derelict for more than 10 years.
Times of Malta had reported how the permit for the 280-square-metre development was issued in the name of Roderick Farrugia, the son-in-law of former Labour MP Bertu Pace, now a consultant to Agriculture Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes.
The permit was issued on the strength of a dubious letter under the Agriculture Department’s letterhead.
Bearing the signature of Stephen Galea, who described himself as a vet support assistant, the letter certified that the area had been used as a farm prior to 2000. On this basis, the developer was able to apply for a permit under the new rural policy.
It later emerged, however, that Mr Galea was never listed as vet support officer but as “a labourer”, a position he still holds today.
Soon after this newspaper reported the issue, heavy machinery was deployed to clear the soil in preparation for development. The work was stopped by Mepa, which said development could not start before March 1, according to the permit.
The planning authority informed the Agriculture Department its investigations had to be concluded before that date or else work could start.