The Nationalist Party on Friday said it has submitted a formal response to the amendments proposed by the Labour Government to the planning system, which have been rushed through without any consultation after years of neglect.

This submission, the party said in a statement, is consistent with what the PN has long insisted upon: that any reform of the planning system must be serious, transparent, fair and holistic, based on scientific evidence and on broad and participatory consultation.

Instead of strengthening the planning system, the Government's draft amendments will weaken it. They will reduce citizens' rights, give excessive powers to the Executive and the Minister, and encourage abuse and illegality, the PN said.

For this reason, the PN is once again insisting that the government must immediately withdraw these draft amendments and launch a serious process of genuine, open consultation, including the publication of scientific evidence and impact assessments for any potential changes.

The proposed changes carry serious risks: they undermine the hierarchy of law and further erode public confidence in the planning system; they restrict access to information; and they open the door to the regularisation and amnesty of illegalities, even in ODZ areas. The aim should be to restore certainty, predictability and justice in the entire process, not to allow more room for interpretation, arbitrariness and abuse.

The PN said it has already proposed that any permit under appeal should be suspended, in line with clearly defined timelines. On the other hand, the Government's proposed amendments are highly objectionable as they effectively restrict the public's right to appeal planning decisions, including through the introduction of heavy fines that deter people from lodging appeals. Worse still, they will weaken our Courts, which will be placed in a position where they cannot directly strike down illegal permits. There are even clauses allowing works to start while an appeal is still pending - and even if the permit is later annulled, the works would still be considered legal. This not only entrenches an arbitrary system, but also creates a vicious circle of uncertainty that favours lawbreakers.

These amendments also diminish the role of the environment in the planning process. Environmental and sanitary considerations, essential to ensure development is sustainable and safe, are being sidelined. The consequence is clear: more uncontrolled construction, less protection for our natural and urban environment, and a poorer quality of life for citizens.

In its submission, the PN also stressed the need for a formal mechanism of impartial mediation and clarification between the Authority, applicants, objectors, NGOs, internal and external consultees of the Authority, local councils and citizens. This mediation process should serve to clarify and resolve many issues at an early stage, avoid unnecessary confrontation, and reduce costs and delays for all parties.

The PN said it will continue to put forward a concrete alternative, based on a vision that places people and the environment at the heart of the planning system, while ensuring that laws are applied with fairness, transparency and accountability.