Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1131709
number of permits being is- sued. Too many permits? It is Muscat who now comes closer at identifying the roots of the problem; which is the "gap" between the number of developments approved and the capacity of the institu- tions to govern the industry. The question emerging from Muscat's own reasoning is; are we approving too many permits for any enforcement system to work? If that is the case: can we consider a system through which only a manageable amount of per- mits can be executed in par- ticular areas to ensure that enforcement is manageable? In this way permits issued by the PA will only be made ex- ecutable when this is deemed fit by the regulatory authori- ties, thus also minimising the inconvenience for residents and the pressure on the infra- structure. This may be easier said than done. But giving the regulator greater power in determining the amount of concurrent works which can be carried out in any particu- lar area during a particular timespan may go a long way in restoring a sense of nor- mality to neighbourhoods. Muscat's political quandary Yet ultimately one great ob- stacle to reforming this sector lies in its power to influence decision making, to the extent that under this administra- tion, lobbyists have assumed public posts and policies have been drafted by architects who are close to the construc- tion lobby. While it remains doubt- ful how far Muscat can go in taming a monster which he has been feeding for the past 6 years, by stopping demolition and excavation works for two weeks Muscat has confirmed his ability to understand and respond to the public mood. His decision has also em- boldened Labour supporters to speak up on this issue. The question now is; will Muscat (or his successor) gradually try to weaken the grip of the construction industry on his party or in the party irreme- diably compromised? This action was reminiscent of Muscat's decision after the hunting referendum to stop the hunting season after se- ries of "flagrant" illegalities which included the shooting of a kestrel in a school. Both were to some extent public relations stunts which addressed the perception of Muscat's labour being too close to two powerful lobbies (hunters and developers). The post referendum clampdown did not eliminate hunting il- legalities but contributed to a sense of realisation among hunters that it could not be back to business as usual. Yet when it comes to tackling the construction industry, the stakes are much higher both in terms of public risk and in terms of political collateral for the party in government. For under Muscat Labour has actively nurtured this sector despite strong resentment from its own grass roots and even party grandees. This may explain the scepti- cism of former Labour leader and MEP Alfred Sant who de- scribed Muscat's decision to as "too little, too late". Writing on his blog on the Malta Independent Sant ex- pressed doubts on "whether the freeze that has been de- creed on the demolition of existing buildings will solve the crisis in the construction sector". He does not mince his words when referreing to the con- struction industry as one "which continues to plough forward at full blast, where all are in it for themselves, often in abusive mode", adding that "the authorities have already made it clear they do not have enough resources, in quantity and quality, to cope with de- velopments". The root of the problem ac- cording to the Labour gran- dee is that "there are too many vested interests press- ing for the demolition of ex- isting buildings to be replaced in quick time by higher con- structions". maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 19 JUNE 2019 7 ANALYSIS after the horse has bolted? 2005 New design guidelines permit receded floor on most houses. 2006 Local plans extend development zones and allow 3 storey development and penthouses in all towns and villages 2007- 11,343 permits issued for new dwellings in a single year. 2007- Two workers die when a roof collapses in Hamrun. 2007-Government intro- duces regulations obliging developers to appoint a site manager responsible for abiding to safety regula- tions. 2009- Regulations extended to cover third party rights. 2012: Permits for dwellings drop to 3064 amidst eco- nomic downturn. 2013 Labour elected to power after cozying up to developers' lobby. 2015 Design Guidelines standardise building heights in most towns to 17 -18 meters, while giving boards more leeway in interpreting policies, thus triggering new construction boom. 2016: PA announces 'sum- mary procedure' for apart- ment blocks of less than 16 apartments, reducing consultation period on small development from 3 to 2 weeks. 2018: Government announc- es public consultation on the white paper setting up the authority which will regulate the construction industry as well as buildings. 2018- 12,885 permits ap- proved in a single year, the largest ever amount in a sin- gle year in Maltese history. March 2019- Worker dies on construction site in St Julians four months after another worker fell seven storeys after his lifting rope snapped in another construction site. May/June 2019- Houses col- lapse in G'Mangia, Mellieha and Hamrun after a number of incidents involving deaths and injuries to workers. 2019- New regulations an- nounced. How construction outrun regulation Policy timeline On Saturday 8 June, a building collapsed in Mellieha (left), followed last Thursday by a second building collapsing in Gwardamanga