Kalkara oil depot controversy
The Resources Ministry has hit out at a statement by the Opposition spokesman for Mepa, Roderick Galdes, who criticised a Mepa Board decision to approve the demolition of an old former British services oil depot on the seafront between Vittoriosa and Kalkara.
(The Sunday Times 2/8/09) read more...

Mepa reform - what's new?
People who care about planning are hyped up about what is happening. Rightly so, since the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) is a top organisation in Malta that affects the daily lives of each and every one of us.
(The Sunday Times 2/8/09) read more...

Don't let agendas block the view
In 2008, the House of Lords in the UK held a debate on architecture for the first time in four years. The debate was intended to "call to attention the case for encouraging high-quality architecture in the UK and for ensuring that design quality is taken into account by local planning authorities".
David Felice (The Times 16/01/2009) read more...

End of the road for Ta' Qali crafts village
Dock No.1 may become arts and craft centre
(The Times 16/01/2009) read more...

One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (72)
Statue of St Elijah
(The Times 15/01/2009) read more...

Mepa's director general retires
After about 16 years at the planning authority, director general Godwin Cassar has reached the end of the road and will retire today.
(The Times 15/01/2009) read more...

Owner cautions Mepa about 'serious threat' to heritage site
The owner of Villa Barbaro, in Tarxien has formally cautioned the planning authority about "the serious threat" facing the heritage site as a result of two applications to carry out construction works next to it.
(The Times 15/01/2009) read more...

Court: Court accepts injunction against government to stop demolishing Magic Kiosk
The First Hall of Civil Court yesterday accepted a provisional prohibitory injunction filed by the owners of Magic Kiosk, Brittania Catering Co. Ltd, stopping the government from demolishing the establishment.
(The Malta Independent 13/01/2009) read more...

Restoration work at Qala fort
Qala council’s restoration of a fort should be emulated by local councils, as a way of preserving their historical heritage, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said said when he visited the works in progress at Fort Sant’Antnin.
(The Malta Independent 13/01/2009) read more...

Illegal rooms demolished in Selmun area
The direct action team of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa), assisted by personnel from the Lands Department within the Government Property Division, moved in with large machinery on the Selmun area yesterday, to start a demolition and clean up operation on a number of illegal developments which will take several days.
(The Malta Independent 13/01/2009) read more...

Rent reform law
Government promoting use of empty residences
(The Times 13/01/2009) read more...

Clean-up of illegal structures, eyesores in Selmun
Selmun's countryside was bustling with workers yesterday as illegal rooms were demolished, walls knocked down and an illegal reservoir filled in as part of a clean-up enforcement action.
(The Times 13/01/2009) read more...

Planning authority schedules four ecological sites
Four ecological spots across the island, which are rich in natural heritage, have been scheduled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.
(The Times 12/01/2009) read more...

St John’s Foundation urges the public to have their say
The president of St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Mgr Philip Calleja, has welcomed the news that Mepa has now made public the Project Description Statement, known as PDS, for the forthcoming Environment Impact Assessment on the proposed extension to the St John’s Co-Cathedral Museum.
(The Independent on Sunday 11/01/2009) read more...

For a new Valletta
Flimkien ghal Ambjent Ahjar said in a statement it welcomes the project to rebuild Valletta’s City Gate and the Opera House site.
(The Independent on Sunday 11/01/2009) read more...

Covering the temples
Final preparations are being made prior to putting up the protective tents over the Neolithic temples of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim.
(The Independent on Sunday 11/01/2009) read more...

Foundation encourages public to air views on St John's
The St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation has urged people to voice their opinions on the proposed extension of its museum.
(The Sunday Times 11/01/2009) read more...

Mepa schedules Wardija Ridge, Il-Ballut tal-Wardija, Wied ta’ San Martin and Il-Maqluba
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority (Mepa) has recently scheduled the areas of Wardija Ridge, Il-Ballut tal-Wardija, Il-Wied ta’ San Martin and the area known as Il-Maqluba, in its efforts to safeguard the rich natural heritage that these areas contribute towards the eco-system of the Maltese Islands.
(The Malta Independent 10/01/2009) read more...

Magic Kiosk being dismantled
The long-standing Magic Kiosk in St Anne Square, Sliema, whose emphyteusis has expired, started being removed yesterday by employees of the Government Property Division.
(The Malta Independent 10/01/2009) read more...

One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (70)
The Camarata
(The Times 10/01/2009) read more...

One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (69)
Victoria Gate and marble billboards
(The Times 08/01/2009) read more...

Campaign to lower high rubble walls starts
A campaign to lower rubble walls exceeding the permissible height has been launched by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority and the Rural Affairs Ministry.
(The Times 08/01/2009) read more...

Legislation on Valletta vacant property ‘needed’
Valletta mayor Alexiei Dingli has called on the government to enact legislation that would give more control over vacant buildings, many of which are dangerous and shabby.
(The Malta Independent 06/01/2009) read more...

One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (68)
Buttiġieġ-Francia Palace
(The Times 06/01/2009) read more...

Renzo Piano’s 1989 City Gate project
Renzo Piano’s 1989 Valletta City Gate Project was presented to the public in an exhibition organised by the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee at the National Museum of Archaeology.
(The Independent on Sunday 04/01/2009) read more...

One World - Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (67)
Church of Our Lady of Liesse
(The Times 03/01/2009) read more...

Building certification by ‘March earliest’
The certification system on the energy performance of buildings in compliance with the EU’s Energy Directive will not be available when the regulations come into force on January 2, 2009 – and it is unlikely that the system will be in place before spring.
(di-ve,com 16/12/2008) read more...

Valletta dreams and nightmares
The Prime Minister's plans for Valletta's City Gate and the old Opera House site have not quite generated the intensity of debates of yesteryear on the same subject.
Lino Spiteri (The Sunday Times 14/12/2008) read more...

Attard residents scream out: 'Stop the construction'
Nationalist MP calls on public to object to every application
(The Sunday Times 14/12/2008) read more...

Fort St Elmo restoration to complement Piano designs
In the wake of last week's press conference by the Prime Minister that world-renowned architect Renzo Piano will once again propose designs for City Gate and the Opera House, one can only applaud this much-awaited project.
Marie Louise Musumeci (The Sunday Times 07/12/2008) read more...

Gonzi shows his mettle
Fr Peter's Perspective
(The Sunday Times 07/12/2008) read more...

Protecting the most significant buildings, monuments and features of Valletta (56)
Auberge de Baviere
(The Times 06/12/2008) read more...

Public transport reform takes shape
The number of buses will be halved and hubs in different localities will take the bulk of buses away from the disorderly Valletta bus terminus, according to proposals to overhaul the public transport system.
(The Times 06/12/2008) read more...

DLH welcomes plans for Valletta entrance
Din l-Art Helwa welcomes the fact that the entrance to Valletta and the Opera House site are finally being given attention.
(The Malta Independent 05/12/2008) read more...

Regeneration of Valletta: Architects welcome Piano appointment
The goals of the Kamra tal-Periti (Chamber of Architects) include providing support in achieving excellence in architecture in the interest of the community.
(The Malta Independent 05/12/2008) read more...

Renzo Piano's challenge
Moving Parliament to the site of the former Royal Opera House may be more appropriate than many people may think. Politics does provide us with endless entertainment.
Harry Vassallo (The Times 05/12/2008) read more...

Valletta project welcomed
Heritage and environment NGO Din l-Art Ħelwa has welcomed the renewed attention being given by the government to City Gate and the Opera House in Valletta, saying it was now awaiting renowned architect Renzo Piano's designs with interest.
(The Times 05/12/2008) read more...

NGOs, KTP approve Valletta project
The Kamra Tal-Periti, whose goal is to strive for architectural excellence in Malta have also approved the government’s decision to leave the design of the Opera House to Renzo Piano.
(di-ve,com 04/12/2008) read more...

Chamber of Architects backs Piano return to City Gate project
The Chamber of Architects (Kamra tal-Periti) said today that it commends and supports the government’s decision to proceed with the City Gate project and the choice of Renzo Piano as architect. It also urged the government to consider the status of the Guidelines for the Regeneration of Valletta drawn up by Mr Piano himself in his previous commission.
(The Times 04/12/2008) read more...

Renzo Piano resurrected for City Gate
World-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano is likely to be back to develop Valletta's City Gate after the government resumed contact with him.
(The Times 01/12/2008) read more...

27 photovoltaic systems on government buildings
The government has installed a total of 27 photovoltaic solar panel systems atop its ministerial buildings, schools and entities to date.
(The Sunday Times 30/11/2008) read more...

Protecting Gozitan valleys
Gozitan valleys, unlike their Maltese counterparts, have largely not borne the brunt of urbanisation and been spared development. However, a particular Gozitan valley skirting Borg Għarib Street and Smirat Street in Għajnsielem, seems to have set an unenviable precedent in Gozo
Alan Deidun (The Sunday Times 30/11/2008) read more...

Will Mepa reform lead to any change?
The Malta Environment and Planning Authority has been the source of so many complaints that in the run-up to the election last March, the Prime Minister promised he would take it in his charge and personally see through the implementation of a much needed reform.
Michael Falzon (The Sunday Times 30/11/2008) read more...

Ta' Ċenċ development still possible despite added EU protection
Fresh plans submitted
(The Independent on Sunday 30/11/2008) read more...

New obligations on building industry suppliers
Suppliers to the construction industry will have to ensure that the products and materials they trade in meet European quality standards and can be traced back to the manufacturers in line with a new proposal made by the European Commission.
(The Times 29/11/2008) read more...

Draft rent laws changes published
The Bill proposing changes to the rent laws was published in the Government Gazette.
(The Times 29/11/2008) read more...

Rent reform proposals: Government will not interfere in existing contracts – Minister Dalli
The government will reduce the final withholding tax from 12 per cent to three per cent for owners who sell their property to their tenants after five years and will not interfere in already existing contracts as part of the new rent reform
(The Malta Independent 25/11/2008) read more...

Awards for built and natural heritage journalism
Din l-Art Helwa recently announced this year’s awards to journalists and publications that most raised awareness on the issues and status of the island’s built and natural heritage.
(The Malta Independent 22/11/2008) read more...

Mepa should ditch unacceptable applications, PM says
The Prime Minister made a case for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to be able to ditch permit applications that immediately appear to be unacceptable.
(The Times 21/11/2008) read more...

Malta lacking policy on high-rise buildings
Malta is planning to reach for the skies with 25 pending applications for the construction of towers, yet there is no policy or vision in place to see which direction such development should take.
(The Times 22/11/2008) read more...