Residents in Siggiewi, Zejtun and Victoria can utilise Lm40,000 in grants offered by Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) to restore timber balconies, said Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino yesterday.
Mr Pullicino was addressing a press conference in front of one of the newly restored scheduled buildings in Old Bakery Street Valletta.
He explained that the timber balcony scheme is not only available to those living in the three mentioned localities but to all those residents living in scheduled houses.
“These three localities were chosen as we believe that it is important that their character is restored and not lost,” said Mr Pullicino.
It is estimated that around 800 residents will benefit from this scheme. They apply to receive financial help to repair or replace their balcony with another made of timber. Mepa will subsidise up to 60 per cent of the cost and not more than Lm600 for each building.
Mepa allocates a sum for this scheme every year, with a different emphasis each time, and so far over 220 families in 15 localities benefited from this scheme.
Minister Pullicino explained that Valletta as a whole is classified as a scheduled city.
“However, Mepa has commenced a process of scheduling all individual buildings in Valletta,” said Mr Pullicino. “By the end of September, over 100 buildings will be scheduled, thus removing the blanket provision over Valletta.”
Mepa chairman Andrew Calleja emphasised the importance of seeking professional advice before carrying out any form of restoration work on the balcony.
“All too often facades of houses of character are ruined through hacking and high pointing,” he explained.
Inappropriate use of materials and techniques result in devaluation of property and deterioration of the character of village cores.
Residents in scheduled buildings can also utilise this scheme to indicate plans where they will place air-conditioning units and are spared the need to apply for a separate permit.
Valletta Rehabilitation Project coordinator Ray Bondin pointed out that through similar schemes residents can contribute to the embellishment of cities such as Valletta.
“Once restoration is done properly, it increases the value of the building,” he added.
Over the past two years, Mepa approved over 1,000 applications to reconstruct buildings keeping the old façade, said Mr Pullicino. “One has to appreciate the extensive work Mepa is carrying out – there has been a lot of redevelopment while keeping the buildings’ original characteristics.”
Applications for the grants are available from Mepa offices and their website www.mepa.org.mt and from the local councils of Zejtun, Siggiewi and Rabat, Gozo. The information is also mailed to all the residents in these communities and to residents in scheduled buildings in Malta and Gozo.