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10 COMMERCIAL STUDIES show that Green Infrastruc- ture can substantially mitigate the ad- verse impacts that urbanisation and densely populated areas have on the en- vironment, resulting in better air quali- ty, water management and biodiversity protection. Having greener streetscapes supports mental health and encourages people to walk more. "At the heart of Green Infrastructure is the principle of co-existence, where we start to co-exist with the natural envi- ronment instead of developing in con- flict with it," Martin Saliba, chairperson of the PA's executive council, said. "is scheme is serving as a catalyst to promote and support the introduction of GI in our urban areas. We know that by encouraging and supporting private property owners to introduce green fa- cades, walls and the green retrofitting of front gardens we are directly and posi- tively addressing climate change, public health, biodiversity and community co- hesion." What does the scheme cover? With an allocated budget of €2 mil- lion, the scheme will finance the in- troduction of green facades, walls and the green retrofitting of front gardens carried out by private property owners living in residential areas. e scheme promises to refund 100% of the eligi- ble works, including all costs associ- ated with labour works, material, hire of equipment, a five-year maintenance plan and professional and consultancy fees. e overall funding will be capped up to a maximum of €10,000 per property. e reimbursement of costs will occur over five years, with 60% on completion of works and the remaining after the first, third and fifth year after comple- tion. Who is eligible? e scheme is aimed at private res- idences which have a front garden or apartment blocks including penthouses that have their balconies overlooking a public street or space. Shops and offices with existing front gardens within these areas may benefit from the scheme. Residences which fall within the de- velopment zone but are scheduled or within Urban Conservation Areas or villa/bungalow sites within Residential Priority Areas are not eligible. What works are covered? e scheme applies to the creation of green walls or facades and the retrofit- ting of existing front gardens. A green wall is a wall covered with plants that are growing in modular containers or on special material attached to the wall. For the introduction of a green wall - including panels, plants, and irrigation system within the front garden, includ- ing hardware, timers, fertigation etc - there is a capping of €500/m2. When it comes to green facades, cre- ated by cultivating climbing plants up and across a facade of a building from plants grown in garden beds at its base, this will be capped at €250/m2 for the groundwork and €35/m2 for the provi- sion of a trellis. Green retrofitting reduces the area of hard landscaping and increases the area of soil space and planting. e retrofit- ting of front gardens will be capped at €500/m2. If the front garden is located above a basement, the capping will in- crease to €600/m2. When dwwoes it start? is scheme will open on Monday February 15th and is available on a first- come-first-served basis. To facilitate the processing of the submissions, requests for funding are to be made by Periti through the Authority's online e-Appli- cation system. e scheme will remain open until the 9th of April, or beforehand if the allocated budget is taken up. e Au- thority has also published a guidance document to assist interested parties on issues related to what considerations to keep in mind before deciding which green infrastructure to introduce, what choice of living plants can be used and their upkeeping. e funds for this scheme are being made available by the Authority from the fees it generates from the regular- isation process application. e regu- larisation process application provides property owners with the opportunity to regularise existing non-conformant developments located entirely within the development boundaries. For more information about the Green Your Building grant scheme call 2290 1544 or email greenyourbuilding@ pa.org.mt. Terms and conditions may be downloaded from the PA's website www.pa.org.mt. Planning Authority launches 'Green Your Building' scheme 4.2.2021 e Planning Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning, rolled out a new green initiative grant scheme to turn grey built-up residential areas into healthier green places to live in

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