Residential properties belonging to private owners and properties belonging to registered voluntary organisations situated along a number of streets in high traffic volume town centres can benefit from a Planning Authority restoration grant scheme.

The Irrestawra l-Faċċata scheme, which will have an accumulated fund of €2 million, was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia together with the Planning Authority's Executive Chairperson Martin Saliba in the presence of the respective mayors of the localities which will be benefiting from this scheme.  

This scheme is open to owners of private residences or registered voluntary organisations who have a property within the urban conservation area located on the following streets: Triq D'Argens in Msida, Triq il-Kbira San Gużepp in Ħamrun/Sta Venera, Triq il-Wied in Birkirkara, Triq Stiefnu Zerafa, Triq is-Salib tal-Marsa, Triq Patri Feliċjan Bilocca and Triq Balbi in Marsa,  Triq Bormla, Triq Ħal Tarxien and Triq Ħal Luqa in Paola, Triq Ħal Tarxien and Triq Paola in Tarxien and Triq il-Kbira in Rabat (Malta). In total, the scheme covers approximately 5 km of street length.

"We have heard the people, we have understood the challenges they face, particularly in these areas, and we will bear the financial cost for families who want to renovate their houses which have an architectural and important value to the localities," Minister Farrugia said. 

He added that the government has worked over the years to preserve and conserve the urban areas of the country. "This led us to various schemes, such as the Irrestawra Darek and Green Your Building schemes through which the houses and facades of Maltese and Gozitan families were restored and embellished. Today, we are launching another €2 million scheme through which we will restore the façades of various buildings in Malta and thus continue to safeguard historical and architectural Maltese heritage." 

PA Executive Chairperson Martin Saliba said that, "through this scheme, the PA is seeking to regenerate a number of streets along town centres which, due to the high volume of traffic passing through, residents find difficulty when maintaining the façade fabric of their homes which experience accelerated deterioration as a result of pollution."

Saliba said that "the Authority has always been a frontliner at making funds widely available to promote and safeguard our common heritage. Through the Irrestawra Darek Scheme alone, which was launched under three editions since 2017, the Authority made available €25 million and assisted 355 first-time buyers, 151 Grade 1 or 2 scheduled buildings, 42 voluntary organisations and 2,058 private owners of residences within village core areas."

Through this scheme, the Authority is committing to finance 100% (up to €10,000 per property) of the expenses for the works related to maintenance, restoration or replacement of traditional façade elements including masonry, timber elements and wrought iron works. In addition, the grant will also include a maximum of €800 and €200 for professional fees and local council permit fees respectively. 

To apply for the scheme, private property owners or registered voluntary organisations must submit their online application through an architect. The scheme will open between the 15th July and 30th September 2021, but will close earlier if the take up of funds is over subscribed. The maps of the eligible streets and the guidelines related to the Irrestawra l-Faċċata restoration scheme may be downloaded from the PA's website www.pa.org.mt.