Local plans under review to enable commercial use of sports facilities
PA says regulations were changed some years ago, but local plans were not
The Planning Authority has launched a public consultation on a partial review of local plans aimed at aligning planning policy with the Commercialisation of Sports Facilities Regulations.
The consultation, launched on Friday by Planning Minister Clint Camilleri and Sports Minister Clifton Grima, seeks to review the local plans. The authority argues that current plans do not reflect the 2017 regulations and restrict the commercial availability of sports facilities.
The public consultation closes on March 27.
Attached files
“This policy enables Maltese and Gozitan clubs to become more sustainable, to strengthen their sports activity and without too much dependence on the government and individuals who invest in the club,” said Camilleri.
Many sports clubs rely heavily on sponsorships and fundraising initiatives to raise money. The proposed changes would allow them to commercialise part of their premises to generate revenue, while retaining sport as their primary function.
At least 60 per cent of the total floor space must be dedicated to sporting use, while the commercial element, which may include social and community facilities, must not exceed 40 per cent.
According to the consultation document, the review seeks to incorporate the Commercialisation of Sports Facilities Regulations into local plans. The regulations were brought into force in January 2017, following the publication of a white paper in 2016, and were later amended in 2020 and 2023.
The objective of the review and potential amendments would be to establish parameters on the type, scale and form of commercial development permitted within sports facilities. It also seeks to safeguard the interests of neighbouring communities, cultural heritage, the environment, transport and infrastructure.
The document further proposes removing or amending provisions in existing local plans that hinder the implementation of the regulations.
Grima underlined that the intention was not to dilute the sporting purpose of such sites. “The sport must always come before the commercial aspect. The sport must always be the priority of the facility,” he said.
Sports facilities in quarries 'as a last resort'
The draft policy also addresses development outside development zones (ODZ). It states that where sports organisations registered with SportMalta do not have access to facilities that meet international standards, and where the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development (SPED) sequential land-use approach has been applied, ODZ sites may be considered as a last resort. In such cases, only existing or redeveloped quarries would be eligible.
Certain facilities are excluded from the scope of the policy. These include public sports facilities and school sports facilities, the Ta’ Qali National Park and recreation centres, the Marsa Sports Complex, the former national swimming pool complex in Marsascala, national sports complexes in Kirkop, Cottonera and Victoria, as well as the Tal-Qroqq national pool. Motor and horse racing tracks, marinas and model aircraft runways are also excluded.
The 2017 legislation established definitions for “commercial area”, “commercial activity”, “sports activity” and “sports ancillary activity”. It also set up a Commercial Sports Facilities Commission and an Appeals Panel to oversee the implementation of the regulations, evaluate applications and monitor commercial activities within sports facilities.
Members of the public are invited to submit feedback on the proposed changes by March 27 and may submit their responses via email to sports_facilities@pa.org.mt.