The planning authority has welcomed what it defined as “landmark judgments” handed down by the court against landowners who tried to stop it from taking direct action in case of illegal development.

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority said the rulings confirmed that people who had carried out any illegal development on their property had no right to stop it from pursuing direct action to remove such illegalities.

The latest two decisions were handed down by Mr Justice Mark Chetcuti and followed one handed down earlier this year by Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri.

The owners had filed applications for a warrant of prohibitory injunction to try to stop Mepa from taking action.

“The authority welcomes these decisions as they lessen the obstacles for the enforcement directorate within Mepa to continue to effectively and decisively carry out direct action operations against land owners who ignore environment and planning regulations,” it said.