Thanks to Din l-Art Helwa, people who are concerned about some of the rampant overdevelopment that is threatening the island have another tool to help follow planning objections.

The NGO has created DLH Alert, an online tool which enables members of the public to send their objections against planning applications through the website, by providing their name and email.

The process is simple and straightforward, making it easy to submit an objection which is generated automatically and will ensure that the public is kept abreast of any developments.

DLH Alert gives details of the application, along with relevant information about the deadline for objections, and its status.

DLH said that the public has over the years shown great interest in supporting initiatives that expose over development and abuse of the local built and natural environment. This portal will act as an effective tool to the public allowing them to be involved in protecting the environment.

To develop the tool, DLH tapped into the Voluntary Organisations Project Scheme (VOPS) run by Ministry for Inclusion and the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, which was used to grow its networking capacity.

It received €20,000 to fund part of the costs of developing this platform – as well as conduct online marketing on social media to promote DLH’s efforts in engaging with the public to inform them with objections to specific planning applications.

The NGO said that it has a team – the Heritage and Environment Protection sub-committee – which scans development applications and sends representation and prioritises those of most concern for appeal and court action.

The sub-committee is assisted by various professionals working on a pro-bono basis, enabling it to tackle far more than its financial resources would otherwise allow.

DLH highlighted the fact that it has been actively fighting inappropriate development over the past years, adding this role to its already onerous burden of fighting for the country’s heritage, restoring and running 20 different sites.

In 2022, it filed 1,500 objections – close to a third of which concern proposed developments in Gozo – but said it would have filed more if it had more resources to cover the considerable costs involved in seeing the objections through, to court action if necessary.

However, it has won some notable cases – such as the validity of Local Plans which stopped the development of the former Tattingers nightclub in Rabat – which help to establish that applications must abide by the rule of law.

DLHAlert can be accessed by clicking here.

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