The Kamra tal-Periti (Chamber of Architects) notes government’s decision to carry out what it calls a ‘Rationalisation of Development Boundaries’ exercise, as a result of which the existing land area in the development zones is to increase by 2.4 per cent.

The Kamra tal-Periti (KTP) is seriously concerned at the sudden release of such a large area, amounting to over 900 tumoli, in the development zones. While certain small pockets of land can be justifiably integrated, it finds it hard to see what justification exists for this huge increase without at least a phased programme of release. Furthermore, there appears to be no correlation between the areas released and the land requirements of the individual localities and no planning exercise seems to have been carried out in order to provide for at least a corresponding increase in quality in the urban design of the areas affected.

The KTP strongly urges the government to include as part of this exercise the rolling back of zone limits by removing sites and areas of high scenic and ecological value, or downscaling their development potential. This will help redress the impact of the increase of urban sprawl brought about by its decision to reshape the zone boundaries.