In the first few months of a new Government, the public consultation process on the reform of planning appeals was officially concluded.
During the consultation period, the Ministry for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment received a number of submissions and observations from citizens, organisations, professionals, stakeholders and interested entities, who provided their input on the proposed legislative framework.
Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Jonathan Attard said that the consultation was an essential part of a process that should lead to a fairer, more transparent and effective system for planning appeals.
“Now that the public consultation has closed I would like to thank everyone who participated constructively. This is a subject that directly affects our communities, people’s quality of life and trust in the planning system. Therefore it was important to listen to all opinions and proposals before moving to the next phase,” said Minister Attard.
The proposed reform is built on three main pillars: the automatic suspension of relevant permits when an appeal is filed, clear deadlines for cases to be decided in a timely manner, and further digitalisation and administrative tools to strengthen the work of the Environment and Planning Appeals Tribunal.
Minister Attard stated that the main aim of the reform is to address a situation that has been felt in the system for many years, where despite the law providing a right of appeal, in certain cases the permit has already been implemented before the appeal process is completed.
“It is not enough that the right of appeal exists in law if it cannot produce a real effect in practice. This is not a reform in favour of or against development. It is a reform in favour of justice, balance and trust in institutions. We are creating a system where the rights of appellants are protected, while continuing to guarantee legal certainty and predictability for those who have obtained a permit in a regular manner,” said the Minister.
The proposals also include more modern electronic notification systems, improvements to digital registers, stronger coordination between the Tribunal, the Planning Authority and the Courts, as well as the introduction of dedicated administrative assistance to the Tribunal so that cases are administered more efficiently and without unnecessary delays.
Minister Attard said that in the coming weeks a detailed evaluation of the contributions received during the consultation will be carried out so that, where appropriate, these will be reflected in the final version of the reform.
“We want a fairer, more transparent and more credible system, where appeal not only exists in law but is capable of producing a real remedy. This is a reform in favour of good governance and in favour of more trust in the planning system,” concluded Minister Attard.
The Government will now continue with the necessary work to advance the reform in the parliamentary process, with the aim of fulfilling the commitment towards a more effective, balanced and fair planning system.
Photo: MIPE
