Planning reform should be guided by fairness, MDA says,

Planning reform should be guided by fairness, transparency, and genuine respect for the built and natural environment. the Malta Development Association said on Tuesday.  

"For too long, uncertainty and piecemeal adjustments have left the sector and indeed the wider public in a state of frustration. The MDA believes that clear, modern, and enforceable planning laws are in the national interest. Malta needs a stable regulatory framework that safeguards the environment, provides predictability for investment, and strengthens accountability in decision making," the association said in a statement.

Two controversial bills for reform of the planning process are currently before parliament wo bills but they have been widely criticised by environmentalists as opening the door to destructive development. 

The MDA said on Tuesday that the reform is not only about property developers.

"Every year, thousands of private individuals apply for planning permits, families seeking to build their homes, small entrepreneurs wishing to improve their premises, and ordinary citizens carrying out modest works. Many of them, like developers, end up vulnerable to undue pressure or outright blackmail from individuals acting out of pique or personal commercial interest, exploiting the system’s ambiguities and delays. This unacceptable situation undermines trust and fairness in the planning process and must be addressed through clear, transparent, and enforceable regulation," it said.

The association said that the reform should be guided by fairness, transparency, and genuine respect for both the built and natural environment. 

It urged environmentalists of good will to engage constructively in this process not through obstruction, but through collaboration, so that Malta can achieve a balanced outcome that protects the country’s heritage while allowing responsible growth.

"The current review of planning policies represents an opportunity to restore public confidence in the system. This process should not become a casualty of political disagreement but rather a moment of national unity on a matter that directly affects the quality of life, the environment, and the country’s future economic stability." it said.

Association president Michael Stivala said the association was appealing for responsibility and maturity from all sides of the House.

“Planning reform must not be used as a political football. It is a national reform that touches every citizen, from homeowners to environmentalists of good will, to those whose livelihoods depend on responsible development. Malta deserves a clear and balanced framework that both protects and empowers,” he said.