Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1231020
7 JAMES DEBONO THE number of permits for new dwellings has de- clined slightly from the record-setting 2018, in an indication that the building boom might yet continue in the next years – pan- demic worries apart. 2019 saw the Planning Authority approving per- mits for nothing less than 12,485 dwellings – just 370 permits less than in 2018. Despite the small decline, 2019 saw the second-ever largest number after last year's 12,855 permits when the the previous record of 11,343 permits issued in 2007 was surpassed. Annual Planning Author- ity data shows this was the first decline following five consecutive increases in permits approved by the PA since 2013, when on- ly 2,707 permits for new dwellings were issued. Since 2013, the number of newly-approved dwellings has shot up by a staggering 374%. In total, 132,371 new dwellings were approved since 2000, of which 31.6% were approved in just four years between 2016 and 2019 during which the PA approved 41,884 permits. The number of new dwellings has now reached the same level as that ap- proved in the property boom between 2004 and 2007, when 37,540 dwell- ings were approved in four years. Statistics show that per- mits for new dwellings shot up from 3,970 in 2000 to peak at 11,343 in 2007. Subsequently, the num- ber of permits declined to just 2,707 in 2013 to rise to 7,508 in 2016. The surge in approval of new dwellings between 2005 and 2007 coincided with a relaxation of build- ing heights in urban areas. It also coincided with Mal- ta gearing up for adoption of the single European cur- rency, when more people started channelling their undeclared money into property development, fuelling a property boom. The surge in permits af- ter 2015 coincided with a relaxation in planning regulation through design guidelines which effective- ly superseded height limi- tations enshrined in local plans, and higher rates of economic growth, which contrast with the econom- ic downturn between 2008 and 2013. ODZ permits increase again But while the PA is ap- proving more dwellings, the percentage of new dwellings approved outside development zones (ODZ) represents 1.7% of the total, a 0.6-point increase over 2018 and slightly higher than the amount approved in 2017. The actual number of new ODZ dwellings ap- proved in 2019 remains higher than that approved in any single year since 2010, except for 2016. In 2019 the PA issued permits for 214 ODZ dwellings up from 139 in 2018, but down from 283 in 2016. A total of 992 ODZ dwell- ings was approved between 2013 and 2018 under La- bour, compared to 601 ap- proved between 2008 and 2012. A far larger number of ODZ dwellings was ap- proved between 2003 and 2008 when 1,113 ODZ dwellings were approved. Moreover, although most dwellings are now being developed on previously developed land, the per- centage of development taking place on virgin land has shot up from 24% in 2018 to 28% in 2019. The percentage of new dwell- ings developed on virgin land was the highest since 2015. But the percentage of dwellings on virgin land has decreased from 70% in 2000 to 28% now. More demolitions than conversions While 5,367 dwellings approved in 2019 were the result of the demolition of older buildings 2,665 were the result of the conversion of existing properties. Conversions remained relatively stable between 2000 and 2004; 2005 ex- perienced an increase, fol- lowed by a decline in 2006 and an increase in 2007 and 2008. This was followed by a decline between 2009 and 2013 and a sustained increase since 2014. The number of conversions in 2019 was the highest ever. In 2019, PA approved the highest number of mai- sonettes (1,226) ever. But the number of apartments fell from 11,211 in 2018 to 10,726. The number of approved terraced houses (402) was also the highest since 2003. maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 APRIL 2020 CORONAVIRUS CRISIS Number of permits for new dwellings register first decline since 2013 but still the second highest ever No slowdown in permits in 2019 Call to suspend excavations ENVIRONMENTAL NGOs Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Moviment Graf- fitti, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Ram- blers Association, Isles of the Left, Malta Youth in Agriculture Foundation, the Noise Abatement Society Malta, and Fu- tur Ambjent Wieħed yesterday joined St Julian's, Sliema, San Ġwann, Swieqi and Gżira mayors in a call for construction work to be limited to 8:30am-1pm dur- ing the coronavirus pandemic. However, the eNGOs are calling for a total suspension of all excavation works during the COVID-19 crisis. The noise emission levels caused by excavation work is between 95 and 110 decibels, when the World Health Organ- isation (WHO) warns that exposure to noise above 85 decibels is dangerous to human health. "Medical studies show that excessive noise levels can cause hearing loss, stress and higher rates of diabetes. Constant noise causes blood vessels and muscles to contract, leading to a gradual loss of hearing, and possibly to heart disease and high blood pressure which can cause strokes. Changes in the immune system and birth defects have been also attrib- uted to noise exposure," FAA spokesper- son Astrid Vella said. The eNGOs called for a change from the present excavation method to hydraulic rock splitting, an almost silent method that does not cause vibration and is used in Europe and other countries. "Besides aggression and other anti-so- cial behaviour, exposure to intense levels of noise interferes with concentration, causes depression and anxiety – espe- cially due to the very real worry of home collapses caused by excavations," Vella said. "Elderly residents in Malta are known to have spiralled into dementia during extended periods of excavation drilling near their homes. The WHO stresses that 'prolonged exposure to environmen- tal noise can lead to reduced cognitive performance in children as well as severe annoyance and sleep disturbance'." The NGOs said it was a gross injustice that at a time when residents are fac- ing such stressful times, they should be subjected to the mental torture of per- cussion drilling at 110 decibels for eight hours a day. Emergency doctor Jonathan Joslin has called for all non-essential construction to cease immediately since "a large per- centage of major trauma dealt with in the Emergency Department over the past year resulted from construction sites," depriving hospitals of resources now needed for COVID-19 patients. Besides noise pollution, air pollution caused by construction exacerbates pul- monary problems like asthma, and re- duces immunity to disease. This makes sufferers more vulnerable to COVID-19, placing further strain on medical re- sources. "Residents confined to their homes are being subjected to unbearable noise which they can't escape, while children and the elderly cannot even relax."