Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1483841
10 COMMERCIAL 10.11.2022 GOVERNMENT has requested the Planning Authority (PA) to propose amendments to the Regularisation of Existing Development Regulations. These proposals include develop- ments that fall within a Category 1 Rural Settlement, and pre-2016 prop- erties which have their site perime- ter partially beyond the development boundaries but covered with an exist- ing permit. The Regularisation of Existing Development Regulations were in- troduced in August 2016 and give property owners with unsanctiona- ble, non-conformant, development located entirely within the develop- ment boundaries, the opportunity to regularise their development. These regulations enable owners to be in a far better position to sell, or use their property as a guarantee for finance. The PA is proposing to amend the regulations so that existing, unsanc- tionable, non conformant develop- ments which are sited entirely within a Category 1 Rural Settlement may also be considered for regularisation. Rural settlements were designated in the 2006 through the local plans. These settlements, outside the de- velopment boundaries, were areas, where several old building permits for dwellings had been granted and that were near the main urban areas but separated by an undeveloped gap. The draft amendments also include properties which fall, partially, be- yond the development boundaries. The regularisation shall only apply to existing buildings whose site is al- ready covered by a permit issued prior to 2016. Only non-sanctionable variations from the existing permit shall be considered within the permitted site boundary. Sites where no form of development permission exists, shall not be eligible for regularisation. The current regulations consider regularising past legally non conform- ant developments only if the building, or structure, does not result in any in- jury to amenity and if the use of the development is in conformity with current planning policies and regula- tions. Additionally, the existing irregular development cannot have a footprint which goes beyond what appears in the Authority's aerial photographs of 2016. Any extension, or addition, be- yond this footprint cannot be regu- larised. These prerequisites are set to remain untouched. The draft regulations also propose to regularise those developments where an existing enforcement notice had been issued by the Authority prior to 2016. Since the introduction of these regu- lations in 2016, the Authority received over 19,500 applications. Over the years, the Authority has used the monies generated from these applications to finance schemes for the regeneration of our town and vil- lages, namely the Irrestawra Darek Grant Scheme, Irrestawra l-Faċċata, Irrestawra l-Każin and the Traditional Wooden Balcony Restoration Grant Scheme. Some of the monies are also used for urban improvement projects proposed by local councils, or NGOs, through the Development Planning Fund. The full draft amendments may be viewed on the PA's website https:// www.pa.org.mt/consultation The Planning Authority invites the public to submit representations to the proposed amendments regarding the Regularisation of Existing Devel- opment Regulations. Submissions are to be sent by email on: regularisation. amendments@pa.org.mt Submissions must be sent to the Au- thority not later than the 21st Novem- ber 2022. Proposals to marginally widen non- conformity development regulations