Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1263287
25.06.2020 10 TOWNSCAPES WHEN navigating a policy landscape of competing inter- ests, plans are created in the hopes of achieving national goals. In reality, though, strat- egy is often a lot more about planning for obstacles, and in- fusing policies with adaptability, than one may first assume. is opens up a plan's success be- yond reaching an end goal and towards securing longevity. Perit Joseph Scalpello, Assis- tant Director in the Planning Authority's Policy Directorate, emphasises the importance of adaptability and respon- siveness in successful urban planning. "Success is a very individual phenomenon which is not always measured in the same way, but which tends to elicit personal value judge- ments," explains Perit Scalpel- lo. "Measuring success is a very subjective process masquerad- ing as objectivity. Speaking in simple terms, a successful plan is one which sees your objec- tives come to fruition. But, that's a reductionist explana- tion of a complicated concept. "For example, if the Authori- ty's solar farm policy promot- ed large-scale solar installa- tions, is the policy's success based on an approach of 'the more solar farms, the better'? If we only measured success in numbers, there could be very negative implications – not least because we operate in an evolving physical, financial, social and political context. Rather than numbers alone, an important gauge of success is how responsive we are to our changing circumstances by adapting parts of the plan. "In 2006, we created the childcare policy in reaction to the then-popular idea of having government-funded childcare facilities. Consider- ing the significant number of childcare centres that opened, one could say the policy was successful. But context is not static, so the policy can't just sit still. For example, after 2006, the Social Policy De- partment issued new stand- ards for childcare and child- care facilities. So, in 2015, we determined a further layer of regulation needed to be woven into the policy's framework." Dynamic planning is fun- damental because policy de- velopment is continuous. Reviewing a policy, while re- taining its primary goals, is a strategic milestone and mark- er of success. As a public en- tity though, the Planning Au- thority is acutely aware of the balance that must be struck between competing sectorial interests – an overarching ob- jective of any policy action. "For successful planning, the process of policymaking is crucial," Perit Scalpello asserts. "People need to know why a policy is being made, what it is seeking to achieve and what it is reacting to. Community involvement will produce a more successful plan because the policy will ultimately bet- ter reflect the interests of most stakeholders. "We strive to involve all stakeholders in our policy- making processes, noting their requirements and con- cerns. For instance, with the solar farms policy, energy pro- viders, solar farm developers, Responsive planning for the built environment Effective planning for the built environment in Malta is a formidable task. e islands are small with limited natural resources, so boosting infrastructural capacities and meeting sectorial demands are no easy feat. Here, Perit Joseph Scalpello guides us along the journey of spatial planning in Malta As a public entity, the Planning Authority is acutely aware of the balance that must be struck between competing sectorial interests – an overarching objective of any policy action