Mepa not to blame

I refer to the letter by Rose Jones ‘Villa Chapelle development’ (February 24).

On behalf of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, I would like to clarify that it was the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal (EPRT) that granted planning permission for the development of apartments and garages within the grounds of Villa Chapelle and not Mepa.

The Environment and Planning Review Tribunal is a separate and independent entity.

In February 2011, the Mepa board had turned down the development application for a residential project that consisted of 59 apartments and 74 lock-up garages, which was proposed to be carried out on a large site within the grounds but behind the protected villa and its gardens. Further to this decision, the applicant filed an appeal, which appeal was upheld by the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal subject to a number of modifications.

Mepa cannot appeal against a decision taken by the tribunal unless on a point of law.

Villa Chapelle and its formal garden have been protected by Mepa as a Grade 2 Scheduled site since April 1998.