“The large stock of vacant properties and the need to facilitate the use of solar energy have to be the starting point of any revision of the seven Local Plans.” This was stated by Carmel Cacopardo, Deputy Chairperson of Alternattiva Demokratika-The Green Party and its Spokesman on Sustainable Development and Home Affairs.

Carmel Cacopardo addded that, “in view of Malta’s small size as well as having over 70,000 vacant residential properties, revised Local Plans should restrict additional development by reversing the rationalisation exercise carried out in 2006, declaring a moratorium on large scale residential development and reducing permissible heights to what they were in 2006. The Local Plans should focus on utilisiation of the existing building stock, with emphasis on rehabilitation and redevelopment where necessary.”

“Solar rights,” added Cacopardo, “have to be protected in the revised Local Plans. This aim can be achieved through both discarding the increased permissible building heights introduced in 2006 as well as by subjecting the possible development of penthouses to the solar rights of residents in the same residential block.”

“The building industry,” concluded Cacopardo, “is ripe for restructuring. The revision of the Local Plans is the optimum time to commence such a restructuring exercise.”

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