A group of eNGOs have called for the resignation of a Planning Authority Board member over a planning application she submitted as an architect.

"As anyone who follows Planning Authority cases knows, incorrect submissions are not rare and even when pointed out, as had happened in the Mrieħel Towers case, the Planning Boards often approve the application just the same. However, this case is much more serious, as Perit Deborah Busuttil, the architect who presented the fallacious streetscape, is actually a member of the Planning Authority Board," the NGOs said.

"The flawed streetscape drawings accompanying PA08765/20 showed rooftop rooms on the houses adjacent to the site in question, where no such rooms exist, in order to justify building higher than the two-storey height prevalent in that area. Given that streetscape drawings are instrumental in permitting PA boards to assess applications, and that in this case, the Board voted in favour of Perit Busuttil's additional floors within the buffer zone of the scheduled Xagħra windmill, the incorrect or false drawing has very serious implications. The fact that the architect who submitted the grossly incorrect drawings is a member of the board that is supposed to uphold good planning practice and instead rewarded abuse, is a very grave matter. For this reason, the eNGOs are reporting the case to the police for investigation and action, while calling for Perit Busuttil's resignation from the PA Planning Board."

"In the light of this happening, all eyes will be on the Planning Authority Board when the case of the Ġgantija Heights block of apartments is to be heard. This application has been recommended for approval, in spite of the fact that the site, within the buffer zone of the Ġgantija UNESCO World Heritage Site, is already mired in controversy and questionable stances on the part of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage. The applicant has also failed to carry out a Heritage Impact Assessment as instructed in a letter by the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage on 8 February 2023. Such Heritage Impact Assessment is a requirement before taking a decision on development in the buffer zone of World Heritage Sites - Ggantija Temples is a World Heritage Site. This is in according with the Operational Guidelines of the World Heritage Comittee. Since Malta is a State party to the World Heritage Convention, and benefits from having three World Heritage Sites, including the Neolithic Temples, it is the responsibility of the country to adhere to the World Heritage Committee's Operational Guidelines, one of which is to carry out a Heritage Impact Assessment in case of developments in the buffer zone prior to granting a development permit."

The eNGOs that signed the statement are: Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Ramblers' Assocation of Malta, Friends of the Earth Malta, Moviment Graffitti, Birdlife Malta, NatureTrust Malta Għawdix