The Malta Developers Association said Thursday it has always insisted that virgin land in ODZ areas should remain untouched.

In a statement, the MDA said that there is an increasing national consensus against further development in areas that are Outside Development Zones (ODZ).

“Ever since its foundation, the MDA has always believed and insisted that virgin land in ODZ areas should remain untouched by development,” the statement said.

MDA said it believed that replacements or changes to existing legal buildings in ODZ should not lead to an increase of the building volume that already exists.

This should apply strictly for sites that fall in Natura 2000 zones where no enlargement of footprint or of building volume should be allowed when redeveloping such sensitive sites. MDA appealed to the authorities to be strict and consistent in all such circumstances.