Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1282292
15 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 26 AUGUST 2020 COMMERCIAL jointly apply. "Besides partnerships, our fund- ing rates have also been amended in other aspects too. For example, most projects used to receive 70% of eligible funding. But now, pro- jects that incorporate facilities for the disabled will get 80%, and GBI interventions will receive 90%. In some cases, green open spaces, such as gardens and green roofs in urban areas, will even be granted up to 100%. This not only includes the capital expediture but any required studies and a five year maintenance plan." What's more, 100% of funding isn't the Fund's upper limit. Pro- jects that incorporate vertical green walls overlooking public spaces, such a public garden with walls on either side, will receive a 5% bonus and if there is need of a development application it will have its fees waived. The intention is for the community to benefit from a more pleasant aesthetic ex- perience by having 'living walls' of plants dominating vertical planes, rather than a garden overlooked by bare walls. With land becom- ing such a scarcity, this incentive encourages new methods of in- troducing greenery into Malta's urban environment to purify the air, reduce ambient temperature and enhance the community's well-being. "We're eager to receive applica- tions for innovative urban green- ing projects," continues Perit Cas- sar. "We want to see projects with sustainable ecology, the health of the community and a vision for long-term success at their core. We've also introduced funding to cover maintenance costs because we know that site maintenance is off-putting from a financial perspective. Therefore, for such projects, the funding application requires a five-year maintenance plan. "If successful, the applicant will receive maintenance funding for that initial five-year period. The idea is that green spaces are going to look sparse on day one, requir- ing a large amount of maintenance until the greenery reaches maturi- ty. After five years, it should have reached a level of maturity that will make it more likely to survive with less maintenance. Through consultations with the Environ- ment and Resources Authority, we have also determined the kinds of plant species that applications could include to benefit Maltese biodiversity." The driving force behind these new incentives is the Authority's desire to receive more funding applications for projects that will genuinely improve community well-being. This looks to be prob- able since larger localities with significant urban development are also seeing their capping of funds being increased from €5 million to €7 million. In addition, the 'Sebbaħ il-Lokal' initiative, which has seen an additional €50,000 allotted to particular lo- calities, has also been extended to December 2022. "We want to encourage organi- sations to partner up with experts to break new ground in urban greening in Malta," concludes Perit Cassar. "We're hoping for a shift in mentality. Urban greening projects require patience. It will take time for trees and plants to grow, but when they do, our qual- ity of life will receive a boost that no amount of quick-fix paving can provide. With the volume of fund- ing that's available through the Planning Development Fund, we believe that the time for sustain- able and cutting-edge greening projects in Malta is now." funding boost