Momentum Proposals: Fixing Malta’s Broken Planning System

Malta’s planning system has been deliberately weakened to serve the interests of developers at the expense of communities, the environment, and the rule of law. Bills 143 and 144, which were presented in Parliament, would make things worse. They would strip away what remains of planning safeguards, hand sweeping powers to the Minister and the Planning Authority, gut the right of appeal, and regularise illegalities across the board, including in ODZ and Urban Conservation Areas. Both PL and PN have had decades to fix the planning system. Instead, they have systematically dismantled it. Momentum will work to reverse this.

Do not re-introduce Bills 143 and 144 and replace them with genuine planning reform through a White Paper and wide-ranging public consultation

Bills 143 and 144, together with their accompanying legal notices, represent the most dangerous assault on planning protections in Malta’s history. Momentum in Parliament will push against this legislative package, as demanded by the Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign. In its place, a White Paper must be published to open a genuine, wide-ranging public consultation on the planning reforms Malta truly needs. Reform should come from the people, not from backroom deals between politicians and developers.

Require a comprehensive national planning strategy 

Developments are currently approved without anyone considering the bigger picture. Individual permits are rubber-stamped with no regard for cumulative impact on infrastructure, traffic, quality of life, or the environment. Momentum in Parliament will push for a comprehensive national planning strategy so that all new construction fits into a sensible long-term plan for Malta’s development. No more approving tower blocks in village cores. No more piecemeal destruction disguised as progress.

Mandate parliamentary oversight and genuine public consultation before any major project gets the green light

Big developments affect entire communities but are routinely approved without proper consultation. Residents find out about major projects when the cranes arrive. Momentum in Parliament will push for mandatory parliamentary oversight and genuine public consultation before any large-scale project is approved. Communities deserve a real say in what gets built in their neighbourhoods and what will impact their daily life.

Dr Matthew Agius, Momentum’s candidate in the 2nd and 8th districts, said: “For too long, planning in Malta has meant one thing: developers get what they want, and everyone else gets the noise, the dust, and the damage. Bills 143 and 144 would have made this even worse. Momentum is demanding a complete reset of how planning decisions are made in this country.”

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