During a conference titled “Context Sensitive Design in Gozo”, the Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camilleri, said that the way forward is to start a process to identify areas in Malta that should also be built with limestone façades.

This was stated in reference to the Planning Authority’s recent policy changes from this past week, in which it issued a circular reading that buildings in Gozo must have façade made of limestone.

During this conference hosted by the Regional Authority for the Development of Gozo, Camilleri stressed that this is a considered step, though more work still needs to be done. He described how the document being launched by the Gozo Regional Development Authority (GRDA) lists several measures that can be taken and that will benefit the Gozitan urban fabric.

In this event, there was a consensus that Gozo should have distinguished policies from Malta that go beyond building with limestone. In this aspect, the Planning Authority last week announced that it will request the use of limestone for both the façade facing the street as well as for the back façades of buildings that look on ODZ. The Authority may consider alternative natural materials such as first quality hardstone (“Ġebel tal-Qawwi”) or travertine for applications in places that are subject to climatic conditions, such as near the seashore.

Public buildings and non-residential developments, medium and large-scale developments, and industrial developments in Gozo’s urban areas will also have to follow these same conditions. For instance, the materials and colours used in apertures and balconies on road façades or other façades at the edge of the development boundary should fully integrate limestone.

Among the points discussed during this conference, one notable proposal was appointing a professional board dedicated to the aesthetics of proposed developments. Minister Camilleri recalled a number of schemes and initiatives that are launched from time-to-time by respective entities or Ministries in order to strengthen the urban character in both Malta and Gozo

He said that the Government has always prioritised urban conservation areas (UCAs) in Gozo – so much so that UCAs in Gozo are provided more help by Government than those in Malta, he stated.

Mario Borg, the Chief Executive of the GRDA, gave a detailed explanation of this document that includes specific measures to make the development industry in Gozo more coherent in respecting the island’s environment.