Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1535324
4 NEWS 4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 14 MAY 2025 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The decision not to accept anonymous reports was justified because a substan- tial number of reports were unfounded or could not be acted upon due to insuf- ficient details and the inability to seek clarifications. The new system allows investigating officers to update com- plainants on the outcome and request clarifications where needed. Despite this change, the total number of complaints received in 2024 was just slightly lower than the 2,456 reports filed in 2023. Illegal development was identified in around half the cases reported by the public. Property owners submitted sanctioning applications in 521 of these cases, while in another 482 cases, the contraveners removed the illegal devel- opment before further action was taken. An enforcement notice was only issued in 162 cases where the contravener per- sisted in the illegality or failed to submit a sanctioning application. In total, the Authority issued 191 stop and enforcement notices, including 162 based on reports from the public. This represents an 18% decrease from the previous year. The report attributes this decrease to a strategy focused on persuading contraveners to rectify in- fringements before resorting to formal action. The report shows that 76% of cases subjected to an enforcement no- tice carried daily fines. A total of 327 pending stop and en- forcement notices, most of which were issued in previous years, were closed during the year, including 125 follow- ing permission to sanction the devel- opment and 117 where the illegal works were removed by the contravener. Rural planning pressure remains high The post-pandemic trend which saw an increase in applications in rural are- as for formalisation of recreational uses in the countryside continued in 2024. According to the report, these applica- tions are largely based on an "incorrect perception" regarding what is permis- sible in the ODZ and are "increasing the pressures on staff members who are required to ensure that the usual standards of rigorous assessment are applied". Moreover, proposals for the subdivi- sion of farmland with individual access along with applications for stables re- mained "markedly high" in 2024. In another annual report issued two years ago, the Planning Authority had linked this trend to the "exorbitant in- crease in rural land purchases for recre- ational purposes". According to the authority, these ap- plications dilute the purpose of legiti- mate rural planning, and increases the workload on staff, who must ensure rig- orous assessment standards are main- tained. In 2024 Planning Authority started requesting complainants to provide contact details Graffiti protest at Qala over illegal development Heritage watchdog clears scaled-down development near historic Dingli chapel THE Superintendence of Cultural Herit- age has issued its clearance for an apart- ment block in close proximity to a medie- val chapel in Dingli. The clearance, which paves the way for approval by the Planning Authority, was issued after the site owner agreed to re- move one full floor from the proposed de- velopment. The building will now rise to three floors, with roof structures limited to access. Moreover, stone masonry will now be used for the façade finishes. The SCH had objected to earlier plans due to the visual impact on the chapel but had hinted it would accept the develop- ment if limited to three full floors. The apartment block is being proposed along a recently created road close to the scheduled Santa Duminka Chapel. The new road was built by Infrastructure Mal- ta in 2021, amidst protests by Moviment Graffitti. Although the SCH does not have the fi- nal say on whether a permit is approved, its opinion has a bearing on planning de- cisions, particularly in developments pro- posed in close proximity to listed build- ings. The new plans have already been recommended for approval by the Plan- ning Directorate. Photomontages presented last year showed the medieval chapel sandwiched between an already constructed blank party wall and the proposed flats, whose balconies will face the chapel. The application, presented by Angelica Stafrace, who owns the site, foresees the development of the 184sq.m undeveloped land parcel, which currently includes sev- eral fruit trees. Another application along the same new road has been presented on an adjacent site by Brian Azzopardi. This second ap- plication was suspended by the develop- er's architect following another request by the SCH to lower the development by one floor. The chapel enjoys Grade 1 protection, and the proposed developments are just 17 to 26 metres away. The proposed development is only made possible by the new road, which provides access to the new dwellings. The road which was included in local plans approved in 2006 was justified as a way to secure access for fire engines and emer- gency services. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Superintendent of Cultural Heritage had objected to earlier plans due to the visual impact on the chapel but had hinted it would accept the development if limited to three full floors