Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1440477
NEWS 6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 JANUARY 2022 JAMES DEBONO REQUESTS for new planning permits increased slightly in 2021 when compared to the previous year, but remain 9.5% lower than in 2019. And demand for new permits re- mains higher than in every year be- tween 2011 and 2016. In an indication that the proper- ty market has stabilised during the second panedemic year, the number of permit applications submitted in 2021 increased slightly from 8,981 in 2020 to 9,049 in 2021, while zoning applications increased from 82 to 87. Despite the COVID-19 pandem- ic, the number of permits submit- ted 2020 and 2021 remained more than four times higher the number of applications filed in 2011, a year also dominated by an international economic crisis triggered by the col- lapse of financial markets. The number of planning applica- tions dropped by 10% from 10,003 in 2019 to 8,981 in 2020, with permit applications remaining at the same level in the subsequent year. Zoning applications, meant to set future parameters for future devel- opments, declined by a more sub- stantial 31% from 120 in 2019 to 82 in 2020 only to increase slightly in 2021. Statistics indicate that the decline in planning applications predated COVID, with the number of plan- ning permits already declining by 13% from 11,480 in 2018 to 10,003 in 2019. The number of zoning ap- plications had also declined by 25% from 161 in 2018 to 120 in 2019. The number of planning and zoning applications only offers an indication of the state of the con- struction industry. This is because planning permits are submitted for a wide range of works, ranging from new residential blocks to agricultur- al reservoirs. Moreover, not all permits are ap- proved and the number of plan- ning applications does not result in the immediate commencement of works. In fact, permits remain valid for five years after being issued and owners may bide for time to com- mence works. But the number of planning appli- cations does offer an indication of confidence in the property market and willingness of owners and de- velopers to take risks. Stakeholders in the sector con- firmed that the construction sec- tor has remained resilient during the pandemic, albeit suffering from what is described as a 'cooling-off' period following a peak in 2018. The fact that the number of appli- cations have remained stable in 2021 is further confirmation of this trend. But the number of planning per- mits being issued also raises issues of sustainability especially when one considers that the PA has received a staggering 50,993 permit applica- tions in the past five years – nearly triple the amount of permit applica- tions filed in the previous five years. The upsurge in planning applica- tions also reflected the more liberal planning policies approved since 2013 which included design guide- lines which practically allowed five-storey developments within de- velopment zones and outside urban conservation areas. 9,049 new planning applications submitted in 2021 After a decline in 2020, number of development applications submitted in 2021 have in-creased slightly but remain 9.5% lower then in 2019