Parliamentary Secretary for Mepa Michael Falzon said today that the new hotel height limitation policy for accommodation development conveys two messages: that Mepa does not operate on a management by crisis concept any longer, and that this policy is replacing another draft policy issued last year, which means that Mepa is now being proactive and adopting measures depending on today’s needs.
He was speaking during the launch of the new hotel height limitation policy applicable for hotels in the three to five star categories, which was revised following a draft policy issued last year.
Last year, during a six week public consultation period, the government published the proposed policy framework while a number of consultation meetings were held with all stakeholders. But this year, the government felt that the policy was defeating its original aim and therefore revised the policy.
MTA’s new CEO Paul Bugeja said that the new hotel height limitation policy is aimed at boosting the country’s tourism product and therefore an applicant's track record will be scrutinised in terms of quality.
Two authorities - the Malta Tourism Authority and Mepa - joined forces to draft the policy, keeping in mind that quality accommodation is a priority.
Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said that Malta needs to make a quality leap in terms of its tourism product and this does not come about by chance.
“This new policy offers a new opportunity to the private sector. This policy will help lead the private sector into new niches as well,” he said.
Dr Zammit Lewis said the fact Mepa and MTA worked together on this project should serve as an example of how entities should work together to create a holistic product.
The Mepa policy excludes the possibility of additional floors in hotels that are located outside OZD, scheduled sites or ones located within scheduled areas, the edge of the Development Zone adjacent to rural areas excluding in designated tourism zone areas, Ridge Edge sites and sites within Urban Conservation Areas.
The allowable height of a hotel building may be more than two additional floor over and above the height limitation permitted in the Local Plan provided that the site area is not less than five thousand square metres, the site is surrounded by existing or planned road, or site accommodates stand alone buildings.
In Gozo’s case, it is only hotels in Marsalforn and Xlendi which can have an additional two storeys.
Mepa will also be looking at a number the of issues such as architectural design, transport and parking, the effect on infrastructure.
Mepa is also requesting that applications for additional floors under this new policy are accompanied by a Tourism Compliance Certificate from MTA since it is the MTA who is the competent authority in this sector as the policy focuses mainly on high quality accommodation.
Accommodation establishments which have an extensive history of complaints or infringements will not be considered for further assessment until the MTA is satisfied that the applicant is prepared to address and rectify these issues and commit itself to a better tourism product.
Extensions will not be allowed if the property is clearly not operating on an all year round basis. This means that hotels that regularly close down or propose to close down during the winter months will not be accepted for the extension of hotel height.
Hotels taking advantage of the new policy will be requested to abide by the MTA's Eco certification requirements including, where feasible, the introduction of treatment and re use of grey water.