Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1357219
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 31 MARCH 2021 NEWS PA has approved the redevelopment of a countryside ruin into a villa in Zabbar on the basis of the discredited rural policy which is still being reviewed JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority (PA) has approved the building of a 142sq.m villa and an adjacent swimming pool outside devel- opment zones despite the ob- jections of the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA). The existing roofed building has a footprint of 70sq.m. and an overall floor area of 130sq.m. But, as approved, the new build- ing will have a floor area of 212sq.m over two floors. The new villa will be located along Triq is-Sahhara, off Triq Bieb is-Sultan, 40 metres away from the development zone boundary for Zabbar in an area identified for road widening. The area is characterised by relatively unspoilt agricultural land. The Environment and Resourc- es Authority had described the proposed development – which includes a swimming pool – as excessive within an ODZ area and one which would set a prec- edent for other developments. The application proposed the demolition of the remaining wall of one of the original rooms due to its perilous state, the reha- bilitation of the rest of the ver- nacular structures, and the con- struction of an extension and a 75sq.m pool area. The case officer justified the ex- tension arguing that the building visible in the 1978 aerial photos, and which has partly collapsed over time, accounted for a foot- print of 105sq.m and an over- all floor area of 165sq.m. This means that the new building will still protrude 37sq.m beyond the footprint of the original building. The development was ap- proved on the basis of a rural policy approved in 2014 which allows the "rehabilitation" of ex- isting vernacular buildings con- structed before 1978 outside the development zone. The use of the building as a dwelling was proven through references to electoral registers dating to between 1939 and 1970, where the property was listed as a residence. The resto- ration works were also approved by the Superintendence for Cul- tural Heritage. As proposed in a draft issued for public consultation last year, the new rural policy will ensure that only buildings presently used as dwellings will be eligi- ble for redevelopment. But the reform still has yet be conclud- ed more than a year after being launched and seven months since a draft was issued for pub- lic consultation. PA ignores ERA, approves plans to turn Zabbar ruin into villa 55 new cases of COVID-19 were regis- tered on Tuesday, the health ministry has announced. 286 recoveries were registered, bring- ing the total number of recoveries to 27,704. Active cases stand at 899, with total cases registered since the start of the pandemic at 28,993. 2,086 swab tests were carried out on Monday, bringing the total number of swabs to 807,370. Two persons died at Mater Dei Hospital, a 78-year-old man and an 83-year-old female. Till yesterday 186,111 vaccine doses were administered, of which 52,340. COVID-19: 55 new cases registered, 286 recoveries THE Maltese government has report- ed a €1.4 billion deficit in 2020, in a year that saww COVID-19 impacting tax revenues, shutting down business- es, and forcing the government in an emergency disbursement of wage sup- plements. The government took 11.7% less reve- nues – €4.3 billion – owing to drops of €229m in income tax, €177m in VAT, €74m in grants, €67m in customs and duties, and various other revenues. The drop was marginally offset by increases from fees of office, social security and other receipts. Total spending climbed by 18% to €5.8 billion in 2020, of which recurrent spending was €4.6 billion, an increase of €422m. The main contributor to this increase was €276m in programmes, €89m to government entities, and €19m in per- sonal emoluments. Programmes and initiatives included €79m for social security, €14.5m of which was related to COVID-19; €49.2m in medicines; €45m for COVID vouchers; and more in health spending. By the end of December 2020, gov- ernment's capital spending amounted to €1 billion, or €482.1 million higher than 2019, largely due to additional spending towards investment incen- tives (€406.7 million). These incentives amounted to €434m, of which €384m was spent in relation to the COVID-19 Business Assistance Programme. The difference between total revenue and expenditure resulted in a deficit of €1,467.9 million, an increase in deficit of €1,477.3 million when compared to the surplus of €9.4 million of 2019. This difference mirrors an increase in €422m in recurrent spending, a drop of €11m in public debt servicing, and a €482m increase in capital spending, apart from the €583m drop in income – reflecting the effect of COVID-19 on the Maltese economy. Central Government debt stood at €6.7 billion, a €1.4 billion increase from a rise of €873 million in Malta stocks, €344m in treasury bills, and a €120m EU loan from the Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) instrument. COVID takes deficit up to €1.4 billion in 2020