Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1390871
10 COMMERCIAL 8.7.2021 Town centre residences with heavy traffic to benefit from restoration scheme PROPERTIES of residential private owners and voluntary organisations situated along a number of streets in town centres where levels of traffic are higher than the norm can benefit from a Planning Authority restoration grant scheme. e Irrestawra l-Faċċata scheme, which will have an accumulated fund of €2 million, was launched by the Plan- ning Authority's Executive Chairperson Martin Saliba in the presence of the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change & Planning Hon. Aaron Far- rugia and the respective mayors of the localities which will be benefiting from this scheme. PA Executive Chairperson Martin Saliba said, "rough this scheme, the PA is seeking to regenerate a number of streets along town centers, which due to the high volume of traffic pass- ing through them find difficulty with maintaining the façade fabric of their residence which experience accelerated deterioration as a result of traffic pollu- tion." Saliba pointed out that "the Authority has always been a front-liner at mak- ing funds widely available to promote and safeguard our common heritage. rough the Irrestawra Darek Scheme alone, which was launched under three editions since 2017, the Authority made available €25 million and assisted 355 first time buyers, 151 Grade 1 or 2 scheduled buildings, 42 voluntary or- ganisations and 2,058 private owners of residences within village core areas." is scheme is open to owners of pri- vate residences or voluntary organisa- tions who have a property within the urban conservation area of the follow- ing streets: Triq D'Argens in Msida, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp in Hamrun/Sta Venera, Triq il-Wied in Birkirkara, Triq Stiefnu Zerafa, Triq is-Salib tal-Marsa, Triq Patri Felicjan Bilocca and Triq Balbi in Marsa, Triq Bormla, Triq Ħal Tarx- ien and Triq Ħal Luqa in Paola, Triq Ħal Tarxien and Triq Paola in Tarxien and Triq il-Kbira in Rabat (Malta). In total, the scheme covers approximately 5km of streets. rough this scheme the Authority is committing to finance 100% (up to €10,000 per property) of the expenses for the works related to maintenance, restoration or replacement of tradition- al façade elements including mason- ry, timber elements and wrought iron works. In addition, the grant will also include a maximum of €800 and €200 for pro- fessional fees and Local Council permit fees, respectively. To apply for the scheme, private prop- erty owners or voluntary organisations must submit their online application through a Perit. e scheme will open between the 15th of July and 30th of September 2021 or earlier if the take up of funds is over subscribed. e maps of the eligible streets and the guidelines related to the Irrestaw- ra l-Faċċata restoration scheme may be downloaded from the PA's website: www.pa.org.mt/irrestawra-faccata.