The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has issued for public consultation a draft document on the use and applicability of the Floor Area Ratio (FAR). The principle guiding the Floor Area Ratio is that the higher the building, the greater the area of the site to be left not built. This principle was introduced in Malta through the Structure Plan of 1990 and was later endorsed in other policy documents such as the Design and Policy Guidance 2000 and Design and Policy Guidance 2005.

The aims of this policy paper are as follows:

• To supplement the existing policy guidance on the use and the geographical applicability of the FAR;

• To identify the demand for tall buildings;

• To set out fundamental issues of principle and design related to tall buildings;

• To establish a policy framework to guide assessment and determination of proposals which involve FAR;

• To enable proper public consultation at the policy-making stage on the fundamental issues of principle and design;

• To reduce the scope for unnecessary, speculative applications in the wrong places.

The draft document is available on www.mepa.org.mt. Comments and suggestions may be made by email to [email protected] or by post to: FAR Public Consultation; Planning Directorate; Malta Environment and Planning Authority; St Francis Ravellin, Floriana.

The closing date is Wednesday 5 July.