Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/333851
EnvironmEntal nGo Din l- art Helwa yesterday said that the recently adopted policy accept- ing high-rise buildings is clearly a case of the malta Environment and Planning authority reacting to an unjustified need for high-rise as a result of political pressure to ap- pease certain lobby groups. "as recommended by mEPa's own advisors, the ultimate ques- tion of whether malta should em- bark on this journey for high-rise or not should ultimately be decid- ed by the citizens of this country and not by a select few," Din l-art Helwa said. "Statistical data should have formed part of this public consul- tation. Sadly, this is not the case." in reference to the new policy for high-rise buildings that has been published by mEPa following gov- ernment approval, DlH said "it is ironic that the recently issued Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED), which is intended to replace the Struc- ture Plan and provide the vision for malta until 2020, states that no further dwelling units are required and questions the need for further office development." DlH questioned how the basic condition to ensure that high-rise buildings are of a high quality de- sign will be fulfilled. While noting that a prolifera- tion of tall buildings of mediocre quality would completely destroy the maltese landscape, "there is absolutely no emphasis on quality design in the current proposals for the new planning regime which is expected to be in place following the proposed removal of the envi- ronment function from mEPa." moreover, it said that the cur- rent experience of tall buildings in malta, such as the existing build- ing in Paola near the addolorata cemetery, gives no reassurance that tall buildings will either im- prove or regenerate the surround- ing areas. the nGo also questioned the unexpected inclusion of mriehel as a location for high-rise buildings. "this area was not included by mEPa in the draft policy it sub- mitted for public consultation. the inclusion of a new area with- out first presenting it to the pub- lic and environment organisations for comments is unacceptable and undermines the whole public con- sultation process which mEPa has successfully developed over the past decade." DlH requested that this area should be withdrawn entirely from the adopted high-rise policy and that a separate public consultation process be carried out on whether or not mriehel should become a lo- cation for high-rise buildings. the nGo also asked why mEPa has now reduced the site area re- quired for medium rise by the pri- vate sector outside the identified strategic zones, from 5,000 square metres to 4,000 square metres. this is a significant change and the reasons for it should be adequately justified to the public, it said. maltatoday, Sunday, 22 June 2014 MEPA unfit to decide on high-rise – NGO News din l-art Helwa says MePa reacted to an unjustified need for high-rise on political pressure to appease certain lobby groups Tigne, Sliema