PRESS RELEASE

PN DOCUMENT “A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOU”, STRIKES THE RIGHT CHORD FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PERILS WE CURRENTLY FACE

Din l-Art Ħelwa welcomes the document “A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR YOU” which was recently introduced by the Nationalist Party.  The document is an excellent tool since it gives clear strategy for each aspect of the environment. It does not stop construction but it channels it into where construction, rehabilitation and renewal can be advantageous both to the building industry itself and to the environment, showing that the two can work in tandem.

These pledges are underpinned by research and ideas into what truly can make this island surge forward without the destruction of the very environmental qualities which make Malta and Gozo unique.  The challenge is to create a successful sustainable economy without sacrificing our environmental qualities. Din l-Art Ħelwa welcomes the strategy that will a) revise the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Planning to ensure that it is becomes a comprehensive strategic vision for the country and b) that the Policy and Design Guidelines 2015 will be revised to ensure that the current tacit approval of 5 floors in all our development zones is reversed and c) that the ERA will be given the proper tools to act as guardian of the environment.

We would also welcome strengthening of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage to ensure that the current spate of demolitions is reversed and that this body has sufficient man power to deal with applications concerning cultural heritage. In fact we welcome further thought on how our historic urban clusters can be protected, with more protection of streetscapes and beefing up of scheduling processes.

The team at IDEA AMBJENT are to be congratulated on the production of this document, and the pledges that have been made to uphold it.

25th January 2017