Planning Authority (Malta)

The Planning Authority (PA, Maltese: Awtorità tal-Ippjanar), sometimes still popularly mistakenly referred to as the previous MEPA, is a government agency which is responsible for land use and planning in Malta.

Planning Authority

Maltese: Awtorità tal-Ippjanar
Agency overview
Formed	4 April 2016 (2016-04-04)
Preceding agency	Malta Environment and Planning Authority
Jurisdiction	Malta
Headquarters	St Francis Ravelin, Floriana St Martha Street, Victoria, Gozo 35°53′24.2″N 14°30′10.2″E 36°02′33.6″N 14°14′48.9″E
Agency executive	Martin Saliba, Executive Chairperson
Website	www.pa.org.mt

It was established on 4 April 2016 from the demerger of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, which also resulted in the creation of the Environment and Resources Authority.^[1]

Structure

The Planning Authority consists of a number of boards and committees:^[2]

• Executive Council
• Planning Board
• Planning Commission
• Agricultural Advisory Committee
• Design Advisory Committee
• Development Planning Fund

Criticism

The Planning Authority is often criticized by locals and NGOs for approving permits for apartment flats that are deemed uncharacteristic for Malta's traditional landscape, with the flats considered overly large and made from non-limestone materials. It is also criticized for removing old villas and other buildings, despite the local populace often protesting against this.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]}