Construction Industry Policy

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

• 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

• 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

• 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.