The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) decided 327 applications in December and received 599 new ones. The net pending caseload at the end of the month was 4,879.

During December the authority processed 73 notifications of development which, according to the Development Notification Order 2001, do not require a formal application. During the month, 40 Stop and Enforcement notices were issued, 23 in Malta and 17 in Gozo.

37 enforcement cases were closed, 21 in Malta and 16 in Gozo. 27 enforcement cases were sanctioned by the issue of a sanctionable permit. Another seven cases were resolved since owners decided to remove the illegal development and comply with the enforcement notice. During the same month three cases were withdrawn by Mepa.