No application for a full development permit was submitted by the government for the Castille Square makeover, even though it includes major structural changes to this landmark spot in the capital city. The planning watchdog gave the green light for the €1.6 million embellishment project through a simple development notification order (DNO).

This kind of permit is a notice  which exempts a range of generally minor developments from full development permit application procedures. While certain conditions and criteria must be met, a DNO offers the advantage of fasttrack processing. In the case of the Castille Square project, the DNO took only 24 hours to be processed and was issued on February 17.

The application was filed by Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, chairman of the Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation, which is overseeing the project together with the Office of the Prime Minister. Works started in earnest this week and must be completed by October, in time for the Commonwealth summit a month later. 

The project includes the removal of trees and the roundabout, and paving of the whole area.

PM - PROJECT IS 'NOT ILLEGAL'

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, replying to questions later this morning, said there was nothing illegal or illegitimate about the permits given for the Castille Square works.

Asked if this was enough, given that other projects such as the renovation of St George’s Square, had to go through a much lengthier process, Dr Muscat said, “in reality this process is completely legitimate and no laws were broken. Things need to be done and they will be done quickly,” he said.

Pressed on the issue, Dr Muscat said other larger works such as the Safi closed centre, had been carried out without any form of permit whatsoever. That, he said, was “a much bigger project, that was illegal”.