Permit granted for modern crafts village

The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has approved the redevelopment of the Ta' Qali crafts village and the surrounding gardens.

The development will see the old Nissen huts being replaced with modern business outlets.

The government said the project included all infrastructural services and the construction of more than 87 plots together with the required roads.

Tenants have saved Lm120,000 in building development fees, which were paid by the government. The government will also heavily subsidise the new premises.

The permit application was submitted to Mepa on September 24, 2002 but the process leading to the rebuilding of the village started more than 10 years ago.

All those allocated space in the new village are being offered contracts on a 65-year lease and parliamentary secretary Edwin Vassallo said recently he was awaiting Mepa's permit to start signing the promises of sale.

The owners of units yesterday started collecting copies of the promise-of-sale agreement being proposed for their particular unit.