Recent decisions suggest that the Government is paying back the building industry for its support prior to the general election, AD chairman Arnold Cassola said yesterday.

Addressing a news conference in Attard on the rationalisation of development zones, Dr Cassola referred to the planning authority’s decision to approve a large-scale residential development in Żbibu Lane, San Ġwann.

Such decisions convey the message that the Government is not interested in safeguarding the rights of residents. The AD chairman said he was also concerned about the concession of two additional floors over the permissible heights for hotel development and the automatic renewal until March 2014 of development permits issued by Mepa since August 2006.

Deputy chairman Carmel Cacopardo said that with a stock of more than 72,000 vacant residential properties. it makes no sense to develop more land, which up till some time ago was outside the development zone.

The news conference was held in the area known as Tal-Mirakli which in 2006 was declared as suitable for development during the last rationalisation exercise.

Mr Cacopardo said that a development permit was issued by Mepa on July 13, for 24 garages, a store at basement level as well as 19 residential units on five floors on this particular site.

The AD deputy chairman said the situation can be partly remedied by striking off those zones which in 2006 were declared inside the development schemes but have not been yet developed. He said that the stock of vacant residential properties should be a primary criterion on which the revised local plans will be based.