Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1522634
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 JUNE 2024 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 This created absurd situations with applicants presenting old electoral registers, parish doc- uments and other documen- tation going back decades to prove that someone lived in the place. But the rural policy also paved the way for a proliferation of agricultural stores, sometimes used for recreational purposes. In June 2020, the PA issued a draft policy document for con- sultation with aim of closing the loopholes. But four years on the authority has told MaltaToday it is still analysing the feedback received. The authority is still "assessing the submissions received dur- ing the second stage of public consultation", a spokesperson for the Planning Authority said, confirming the reform is still in the pipeline. He added that the PA is con- sidering a range of policy op- tions to address the issues raised. "On completion of this task, a revised draft policy will be pub- lished for consultation again," the spokesperson said. No timeframe was provided for the completion of this pro- cess. Sources inside the PA told MaltaToday a major difficul- ty faced by planners is how to avoid abuse by people posing as farmers, to get permits for 'stores' enclosed behind rubble walls in pristine areas, without penalising genuine farmers who need storage space. Intent to change policy floated in 2017 The intention to change the policy was first announced in 2017 by former minister José Herrera after noting with "alarm" the findings of a Malt- aToday probe showing that the Environment and Resources Authority had been ignored by the PA in 69% of approved ap- plications outside development zones (ODZ). Herrera appointed a board tasked with investigating the 2014 policy, but the formal pro- cess to change the controversial rules was started late in October 2019 by his successor Ian Borg. The 2019 process started after public outrage at a permit for construction magnate Joseph Portelli to turn ruins in a Qala field into a villa. Although Portelli later with- drew the Qala application, the policy permitting similar devel- opments remains in place. The only notable change was the appointment by former en- vironment and planning min- ister Aaron Farrugia, of a new board responsible for ODZ permits, chaired by veteran planner Martin Camilleri. The latter adopted a stricter inter- pretation of the 2014 policy than that of former chairman Elisabeth Ellul, who was trans- ferred to another board re- sponsible for regularising mi- nor illegalities. But although the board is more judicious in applying the 2014 policy it still issued several con- troversial permits. For example, in 2023 the PA had approved an ODZ villa with pool in a nar- row rural alley in San Gwann instead of an illegally extended farmhouse, which according to the case officer originally con- sisted of a 15sq.m room. The villa was approved under Section 6.2 of the 2014 Rural Policy and Design Guidance, which allows for the redevel- opment of existing buildings Policy allowing countryside ruins The incomplete reform process to close loopholes in the ODZ policy has been passed on from one minister to another responsible for planning since 2017. (Clockwise from left) Jose Herrera, Ian Borg, Aaron Farrugia and now Clint Camilleri.