Local development plans determine what can be built, how and where, but risk losing their ‘local’ character as the Government plans to whittle them down to three, a consultation meeting heard last night.

The decision, which seems to have already been taken, was criticised by Chamber of Architects president Stephen Farrugia as going against the spirit of the consultation exercise on the plans.

Mr Farrugia said every locality had specific characteristics and such a decision had to be discussed rather than be presented as a fait accompli.

There are currently seven region-specific plans, which the Government wants to simplify into three broad arrangements that deal with rural areas, urban zones and Gozo.

Architect Frans Mallia, a Malta Environment and Planning Authority official, yesterday told the meeting, held at Birkirkara, that the reduction in the number of local plans was meant to simplify policies and provide for more consistency.

Mr Mallia said the proposal may be reviewed if sufficient arguments against it were made during the consultation.

Mr Mallia started the meeting with a 45-minute introduction, repeatedly describing them as “these blessed plans”.

Reducing the plans to three received mixed reactions.

Planning consultant Kevin Morris welcomed the move, which he said would avoid having similar planning situations in different localities being treated differently.

But the decision was criticised by Alternattiva Demo-kratika’s Attard local councillor Ralph Cassar, who insisted that although streamlining policies was good, every locality had specific needs.

Residents who spoke pointed to previous inconsistencies, including changes in building heights and the re-zoning of areas that allowed apartment blocks to be built in terraced house and villa areas.