Construction Industry Regulation
The status quo regarding construction can at times feel like the wild-west in Malta. The rules aren't enforced and there is no long-term vision. We need to ensure that there is proper aesthetic planning and that developments are made with the future in mind. If a new development is to be done then it should be of a high quality. Village cores, and agricultural land are at serious risk and must be safeguarded for future generations.
Regulation of construction
Revise the 2006 Local Plans in collaboration with various stakeholders, including civil society & locality representatives.
Ensure the Local Plans are in line with the present realities and environmental objectives of the European Union.
Create and enforce strict rules for new developments, regarding where, when and how they are to be built, and, taking into account the following conditions among others;
Ensure there is a design style implemented for localities and streets which must be adhered to;
Stricter & lower ceiling levels to ensure a more consistent style;
Stricter protections for village cores;
Incentivise refurbishment & punish unreasonable demolition
Insulation of buildings
Require insulated walls & windows for new developments, which ensure a more stable temperature during the cold winter and hot summer months, reducing energy consumption, and therefore expenses.
Failure to include insulation results in a substantive fine to the developers equivalent to the cost of insulating the property.
Provide Grants for insulation for households that want to and are eligible to insulate their homes.
For buildings built in 2021 and earlier.
Provide Grants for insulation for developers who choose to refurbish a property.
Protecting land from expropriation
Create additional safeguards against expropriation. The landowner/s and occupier/s must be given at least a 2 months notice before expropriation starts.
If the land is farmland, then at least 4 months' notice must be given.
If an appeal is filed, any work must be halted until the appeal has been resolved.
Any plans for expropriation must fairly compensate the landowners in advance.
If the occupier is a farmer then they must also receive fair compensation.
ODZ land must remain ODZ land. Any developer breaching the integrity of ODZ land will be greylisted from being able to take on any new development projects for 1 year.
A repeated breach blacklists the developer from public procurement for 10 years.