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10 COMMERCIAL 18.5.2023 Restore the village core, with the relaunch of the Planning Authority's Irrestawra Darek grant scheme The popular Planning Authority (PA) Scheme that covers the restoration costs of property façades in Urban Conservation Areas returns later this month. Here the PA's Peter Gingell explains how the Grant Scheme helps safeguard Malta's architectural heritage DISTINCTLY Maltese, Mal- ta's town and village cores – otherwise known as 'Urban Conservation Areas' (UCAs) – form an integral part of the island's architectural herit- age. rough the Irrestawra Darek scheme, the Planning Authority has, in recent years, invested around €27 million to enable private homeown- ers with a property in a UCA or scheduled as Grade 1 or 2 to carry out maintenance and restoration works to their façades. "In most cases, these village core areas have narrow streets and a considerable traffic flows, which accelerates the deterioration of the historic fabric of the buildings within them," explains Peter Gingell at the PA. "We recognised the need for investment in the re- generation of the façades of UCA residential buildings and of Grade 1 and Grade 2 scheduled buildings, because it's critical to conserve Mal- ta's built heritage for today's community and future gener- ations." Eligible for works on the building façade specifically, the scheme covers related restoration and maintenance costs including specialist cleaning, the repair or re- placement of doors and ap- ertures, the repair or replace- ment of traditional timber, masonry or wrought iron balconies, the replacement of aluminium with traditional material, painting or render- ing works, re-pointing, and restoration works on mason- ry, timber and wrought iron. For the relaunch of its Irrest- awra Darek Grant Scheme in 2023, the PA has ensured its total €5,000,000 investment is as beneficial to the public as ever, and is therefore cover- ing 100% of the relevant costs. Of this amount, a total of €4,000,000 is available to pri- vate homeowners with resi- dential properties in a UCA, with costs per application capped at €10,000 for ap- proved maintenance or res- toration and/or replacement costs, as well as a capped maximum of €800 for profes- sional fees (including periti fees) and a capped maximum of €200 for Local Council per- mits fees. Meanwhile, the scheme's remaining €1,000,000 is allo- cated to Grade 1 and Grade 2 scheduled buildings. Here, successful applicants receive a grant capped at €15,000 for approved maintenance or restoration and/or replace- ment costs, likewise receiving a capped maximum of €800 for professional fees (includ- ing periti fees) and a capped maximum of €200 for Local Council permits fees. Properties ineligible for the scheme include those that properties that are not res- idences, within a UCA or scheduled; those that have already benefitted from any Planning Authority Resto- ration Grant Scheme since 2017; those currently under an active enforcement notice; or any property less that 50 years old or without architec- tural value. Applicants to the scheme will have around three years to complete the restoration works, concludes Peter Gin- gell. "The 2023 Irrestawra Darek Grant Scheme is available on a first come, first served basis according to the availabili- ty of funds – so we recom- mend making the necessary preparations on your eligible property early, such as en- gaging an architect, to ensure you can apply as soon as the scheme officially opens in late May," he says. More information about the Irrestawra Darek Scheme is available at www.pa.org.mt.

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