The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) determined 663 applications in May and received 679 new applications. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,547.

During May, the authority processed 99 notifications of development which, according to the Development Notification Order 2001, do not require a formal application.

During the same month, 97 Stop and Enforcement notices were issued, 67 in Malta and 30 in Gozo.

In May 2006, 62 enforcement cases were closed, 41 in Malta and 21 in Gozo. Forty-five enforcement cases were sanctioned by the issue of a sanctionable permit and 14 cases were resolved as owners decided to remove illegal development and comply with the enforcement notice. Two other cases were withdrawn by Mepa. One enforcement case was also closed following payment due for direct action taken in previous years.

The 22 cases received at the Complaints Office were resolved without the need for enforcement action, since the owners complied with instructions given by Mepa Enforcement Officers.