Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1114702
09.05.19 16 PROPERTY THE Planning Authority's highly sought after Irrestawra Darek grant scheme will re-open for a third term, following two successful years where- by the Authority committed €18 mil- lion. The grant scheme will open for pri- vately owned residential properties located within Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs) and Grade 1 and Grade 2 scheduled residential buildings. This time around, the scheme is al- locating €1 million to promote a more homogenous upgrade of streetscapes within UCAs. As in previous years the scheme is open for private owners of residenc- es, located within an Urban Conser- vation Area (UCA), who wish to car- ry out restoration and maintenance works on the facade of their old prop- erty. Private owners of such residenc- es may apply for a grant of 70% of the works, up to a maximum of €10,000. Owners of Grade 1 and Grade 2 scheduled buildings may also apply for a rebate on 70% of eligible costs of restoration and conservation works. These works may be carried out on the facade, interior and garden ar- chitecture of the property. Grade 1 buildings can benefit from up to a maximum of €100,000, whereas Grade 2 buildings up to a maximum of €50,000. As an incentive to promote a more homogenous approach and improve the streetscapes of our traditional vil- lage cores, the Authority has allocat- ed €1 million and is giving individual properties up to €20,000 each. This on condition that the cluster of residential properties add to not less than 50m of the streetscape. The properties need to be within an Ur- ban Conservation Area and may in- clude a commercial component. The €5 million that is being made available for this year's scheme come from the fees the Authority generates from the regularisation process appli- cation. The regularisation process applica- tion provides property owners with a 'one-time opportunity' to regularise existing non-conformant develop- ments located entirely within the de- velopment boundaries. During the scheme's press launch, Johann Buttigieg Chairperson of the Planning Authority's Executive Council said "Quality of life has many facades to it, one of which is the ur- ban and built environment we live in. Over these past three years the Au- thority has committed €23 million to regeneration our village core areas. We look at this investment as part of our responsibility and duty towards our built heritage." "Parallel with this initiative we ad- minister another important ongoing funding programme better known as the Development Planning Fund." Buttigieg said that, in just over two years, through this programme the PA had committed €12 million to providing localities with the neces- sary funds to renovate and create new infrastructure which is 'communi- ty-centred' - projects which improve the urban life of residents. "We promise to keep working at finding innovative solutions and op- portunities to make our towns and villages places that provides a quality of life to all," he said. This scheme which will start on 10 June is available on a first come first served basis and will close on the 30 August 2019 or before, if funds get taken up. Works have to commence after 1 July 2019 and have to be con- cluded within three years. Fiscal receipts have to be present- ed and where necessary planning permission (if indicated in the letter of conditional approval) needs to be sought prior to works. Request for funds need to be submitted through an architect. Further information regarding the Irrestawra Darek scheme may be downloaded from the Authority's website www.pa.org.mt. Popular 'Irrestawra Darek' grant scheme re-opens for third term As an incentive to promote a more homogenous approach and improve the streetscapes of our traditional village cores, the Authority has allocated 1 million euro and is giving individual properties up to 20,000 euro each