Land in Malta is scarce and limited.

It is a country with skyrocketing population numbers and ever-shrinking space.

There is no doubt that making good use of the land we have is a must. This is where the need for proper planning comes in.

In areas earmarked for industrial uses, it is important that buildings do not remain abandoned or unused. When it comes to land located outside the development zone, it must be protected from development. When it comes to urban environments, a balance is needed between urbanisation and spaces like parks, where families can enjoy greenery and breathe.

The government has been working on creating green space in the latter areas, giving land to Project Green, for instance, and in today's Malta, where densely built-up localities lack green space due to years of poor planning, such an initiative is a must.

Mistakes had been made. Just by looking at Malta's streetscapes, the way they have been developed leaves much to be desired in terms of aesthetics, and this is the result of poor planning.

When it comes to public land, there have been instances, such as in Mellieħa, where at a time when everyone is far more conscious about the limited space in the country, and despite residents calling out for a piece of public land not to be built up, it was given to developers through a contract to build apartments.

There is even the issue of tables and chairs, where it seems almost every establishment that files a request is given permits for tables and chairs on pavements or parking spaces or in squares. If the space permits, then that is fine, but if the pavement is small, or if it results in pedestrians having to walk into the street, of if an ambulance cannot pass, as has been the case, then something is clearly wrong with the process.

The intensification of development without proper infrastructure planning is also taking its toll.

Land is finite, and continuing to build more and more is just not sustainable in the long-term.

But the government is about to take another decision that could, depending on what course it takes, have a detrimental impact on Malta in terms of planning.

What was meant to be a Bill that would have been widely viewed positively, one that would prevent a planning permit from being carried out while appeals are taking place, saw many other legislative proposals included in a packet of legislation that activists have described as a "developer's wishlist."

From a nearly blanket concession process for illegal developments up till 2024, to changing the hierarchy of planning legislation in instances where they conflict, to the PA CEO indicating plans to introduce a possibility where, if more than 75% of owners of a Block consent, then they can file an application to change the building height, the reforms would have a negative impact on Malta.

On Saturday, thousands marched in a national protest in Valletta calling for planning reforms the government published to be withdrawn. "We are fighting to save our country from ruin," Moviment Graffitti's Andre Callus said.

So what should the next steps be?

The government should withdraw its proposals, and enter into consultations with stakeholders, including eNGOs, on the way forward for the country in terms of planning reforms which would be aimed at improving the country. If it does not, this will be another mistake that we will be paying for down the line.

At the same time, a change must come in the form of moving the economy towards less human resource-heavy sectors which generate good wages. Ideally, the Government and Opposition would come together and plan out such a strategy, to ensure continuity.