Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1369939
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 MAY 2021 14 COMMERCIAL Planning Authority funding new administrative building for the community of Marsascala THE locality of Marsascala will in the coming months have a new administrative building that will replace the local coun- cil's offices and offer a number of facilities for use by the Mar- sascala community. The new building, which will be central- ly located, is being construct- ed thanks to an investment of €530,000 from the Planning Au- thority's Development Planning Fund. The new two-storey adminis- trative building, which is cur- rently under construction, is located in the main square of the locality, close to the Mar- sascala Parish Church. Perit Vincent Cassar, Chair- person for the Development Planning Fund, said "The local council of Marsascala has been wishing for this project to be realised for many years. It is thanks to the Planning Author- ity's Development Planning Fund that this dream is now being implemented and effec- tively delivered for the benefit of the Marsascala community. Over the past years, this local- ity has registered one of the highest population growths and therefore it is befitting that the local council gets a new, modern and accessible facility from where to administer and provide essential services for its residents." Perit Cassar concluded by wishing the council and its res- idents well on this latest pro- ject while encouraging other local councils to come forward with their proposals as there remains €47 million available in the Development Planning Fund for projects which will benefit Maltese and Gozitan people. The PA's Development Plan- ning Fund provides local coun- cils and NGOs with the neces- sary financial support for them to be proactive and undertake projects that are aimed at im- proving the wellbeing, environ- ment and social dimension of our towns and villages. The PA recently also com- mitted over €500,000 to help three local councils in Gozo carry out urban improvement projects within their localities. The projects included convert- ing the street lighting in Pjazza San Gorg and the maze of nar- row, winding alleys of Victoria with a new energy-efficient lighting system, the upgrading of equipment, paving and light- ing of a playing field in Żebbug and new energy-efficient lamps around the Belveder Ta' Qaċċa in Xagħra. The Development Planning Fund receives financing from a few different sources, with on- street parking fees being the most significant among them. Planning gains too make up a portion of the fund, whereby a developer of a sizeable new de- velopment is asked to make a financial contribution for the inconvenience caused in the locality where their develop- ment occurs. The contribution, therefore, is kept within the locality to be used on projects that improve its community fa- cilities and green areas.