Malta's Environmental NGOs Announce National Protest Against 'Corrupt' Planning Reforms

National Protest Called Against Controversial Planning Reforms

A coalition of environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Malta has announced a national protest scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, in Valletta. The demonstration aims to voice strong opposition to the government's proposed planning reforms, which the NGOs have critically labelled as 'the most corrupt planning reform in history.'

The protest, organised under the banner of the 'Ġustizzja għal Artna' (Justice for Our Land) campaign, will commence at 10:00 AM outside the Law Courts in Valletta, proceeding to Castille, the office of the Prime Minister. This action follows a press conference held on September 29, 2025, outside the Planning Authority building in Floriana, where the NGOs reiterated their demands for the immediate withdrawal of the controversial bills.

Details of the Proposed Reforms and Government's Stance

The government's reform package primarily consists of Bills 143 and 144, alongside three accompanying legal notices. According to Minister for Gozo and Planning, Clint Camilleri, these reforms, introduced in July 2025, are intended to curb abuse, strengthen accountability, and enhance the efficiency of the planning system. Key changes highlighted by the government include:

• Construction work will be suspended for five months if an appeal is filed against an approved permit.
• Significant increases in fines for planning abuse, with daily fines potentially rising from €50 to €2,000.
• A one-time opportunity for individuals to regularise unauthorised works, provided they have not caused harm to others, with collected funds allocated to environmental and public projects.

Minister Camilleri has also indicated a willingness to roll back some of the more contentious proposals, such as the Planning Authority's power to override planning policies and a reconsideration of the proposed reduction in the appeals window.

NGOs' Criticisms: 'Developers' Coup' and Erosion of Safeguards

Despite the government's stated intentions and partial concessions, the environmental NGOs remain steadfast in their opposition, describing the reforms as a 'total assault on our environment and quality of life.' They argue that the legislative package is a 'developers' coup' designed to dismantle existing safeguards and reward illegalities.

Specific concerns raised by the NGOs include:

• Bill 143: Critics contend this bill would grant 'dictatorial powers' to the Planning Authority (PA), allowing it to amend local plans, override higher-level planning documents, and disregard environmental considerations. It could also enable changes to zoning and building height limits, even in Outside Development Zones (ODZ), and empower the minister to reinstate expired permits.
• Bill 144: This bill is criticised for significantly restricting citizens' ability to appeal PA decisions. Proposed changes include shortening the appeal window from 30 to 20 days and introducing potential €5,000 fines for appeals deemed 'frivolous.' Furthermore, NGOs warn it would strip courts of their power to revoke irregularly issued permits.
• Legal Notices: The three accompanying legal notices are seen as providing a blanket amnesty for various forms of illegal development, effectively regularising past violations for a fee, regardless of their scale or location.

The NGOs, including Ramblers Association, Din L-art Ħelwa, Moviment Graffitti, BirdLife Malta, and Nature Trust Malta, assert that the reforms were crafted around developers' interests rather than the common good, and that the public consultation process was a 'sham.' They highlight that the proposed changes could lead to an 'unprecedented threat' to Malta's environment, quality of life, and democracy.

Widespread Calls for Withdrawal

The 'Ġustizzja għal Artna' campaign demands the immediate withdrawal of Bills 143 and 144 and the associated legal notices. They also call for the urgent introduction of measures to suspend development works while appeals are ongoing, and for a genuine consultation process through the publication of a White Paper on broader planning reforms. The concerns are not limited to environmental groups; 163 university academics and researchers from the University of Malta have also joined the call for the bills to be withdrawn, warning of 'negative ripple effects and unforeseen impacts' across various sectors.