A second ground collapse adjacent to ongoing roadworks in Xemxija has intensified concerns among residents and local stakeholders, particularly given the scale and complexity of the development project underway. The incident, which occurred within a relatively short period following a similar collapse earlier in March, has prompted renewed scrutiny of construction practices, regulatory oversight and the inherent geological challenges of the site....
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NEWS Malta
April 1, 2026
Architect’s Planning Authority role prompts scrutiny in Malta
A recent appointment within the Planning Authority has prompted renewed discussion about governance standards, institutional independence and the balance between professional expertise and regulatory oversight in Malta. The case concerns...
NEWS Malta
March 9, 2026
Ta’ Muxi ruins redevelopment approved for agricultural store in Qala
The Planning Authority has once again approved a redevelopment project involving the historic Ta’ Muxi ruins located on the outskirts of Qala in Gozo. The permit allows the restoration and...
NEWS Malta
January 20, 2026
Illegal Gozo concrete plant raises planning enforcement concerns
Persistent questions are being raised about planning enforcement and institutional accountability following renewed action by the Planning Authority against an illegal concrete batching plant in Gozo that has continued operating...
NEWS Malta
December 31, 2025
Joseph Portelli exits CF Estates in €6.65m share deal
Construction entrepreneur Joseph Portelli is set to formally exit CF Estates Ltd following the conclusion of a shareholder agreement that will see his 30 percent stake in the company cancelled...
NEWS Malta
December 22, 2025
Abela declines clarity on Fort Tigné transfer approval
Prime Minister Robert Abela has declined to clarify whether his administration will grant the necessary approval for MIDI plc to transfer the Fort Tigné concession to construction entrepreneur Joseph Portelli....
NEWS Malta
December 5, 2025
Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli Xlendi tower approval
The Planning Authority has formally approved a redevelopment proposal submitted by Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli, authorising a substantial transformation of the former hotel site in Xlendi. The decision follows a...
NEWS Malta
December 3, 2025
Social Housing Controversy Deepens Around Minister Galdes
Embattled Minister Roderick Galdes is once again under intense public and political scrutiny after the Housing Authority declined to release details of multi-million-euro leasing agreements signed with developer Joseph Portelli...
NEWS Malta
November 15, 2025
New Gozo contractor bid prompts eligibility questions
A newly established company linked to Gozitan property developer Joseph Portelli and his long-time business associate Mark Agius has emerged as the apparent frontrunner for a substantial public works contract...
NEWS Malta
October 22, 2025
Gozo road project uses illegal concrete from unlicensed plant
A major road reconstruction project in Gozo — the route connecting Victoria to Marsalforn — has come under scrutiny amid allegations that illegally produced concrete is being used in breach...
NEWS Malta
October 21, 2025
Joseph Portelli developments raise planning concerns
Residents across Malta and Gozo have voiced growing concern over recent planning approvals connected to developer Joseph Portelli and his associates. These concerns have intensified following The Shift’s reporting on...
NEWS Malta
October 11, 2025
Joseph Portelli under pressure over illegal ODZ pools
Prominent Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli and his business associates are facing growing legal and financial challenges following revelations that two large swimming pools and an extensive landscaped garden were constructed...
NEWS Malta
October 10, 2025
Planning commission defers 7-storey Xlendi development
In a recent hearing conducted by the Planning Authority (PA), the Planning Commission decided to defer a verdict on a controversial proposal for a seven-storey residential block in Xlendi, part...
NEWS Malta
October 9, 2025
Controversial Seven Storey Apartment Proposed in Munxar
Munxar, a quaint village near the scenic Xlendi Bay in Gozo, is facing a significant shift in its landscape. Plans for a seven-storey apartment block have sparked debates over urban...
NEWS Malta
October 4, 2025
Half of illegal development notices ignored in Malta
Malta’s Planning Authority is facing growing criticism over its inability to enforce planning regulations effectively, as nearly half of all notices for illegal development are reportedly being ignored. The shortcomings...
NEWS Malta
October 3, 2025
Maltese families relocated to Gozo through social housing
The Maltese government has initiated a significant relocation programme, moving families from mainland Malta to Gozo, using private apartments leased for social housing purposes. This move involves dozens of apartments...
NEWS Malta
September 26, 2025
Court ruling ignored as Sannat penthouses get approval
The Maltese Planning Authority (PA) has once again found itself at the centre of controversy after its decision to sanction a series of penthouses in Sannat, which had previously been...
NEWS Malta
September 24, 2025
Planning Authority sanctions illegal penthouses in Sannat
The Planning Authority (PA) has officially approved the sanctioning of a row of penthouses in Sannat, Gozo, despite a definitive ruling by Malta’s highest court declaring the development illegal. This...
NEWS Malta
September 9, 2025
Joseph Portelli Hal Far Project Faces Permit and Grant Risks
Recent developments in the Maltese industrial property sector have brought attention to Gozitan developer Joseph Portelli and his Hal Far warehouse project. Several potential investors have expressed concern after discovering...
NEWS Malta
September 5, 2025
Joseph Portelli warehouses spark concerns over permits
A new development proposal by Gozitan businessman Joseph Portelli has sparked renewed debate over the intersection of private commercial initiatives and state support schemes in Malta. Portelli, one of the...
NEWS Malta
August 28, 2025
Joseph Portelli faces backlash over Wardija project
A new development proposal linked to construction magnate Joseph Portelli has once again placed Malta’s rural and cultural heritage in the spotlight. This time, the project concerns the small and...
NEWS Malta
August 18, 2025
Paceville building collapse raises questions on BCA actions
The collapse of a residential block in Paceville last June raised widespread alarm across Malta, not only because of the near-tragic circumstances but also due to the way the incident...
NEWS Malta
July 10, 2025
Munxar development faces public and legal backlash
A real estate development project currently being promoted in Munxar, a quiet village in Gozo, Malta, has provoked significant public backlash due to its lack of planning permissions and multiple...
NEWS Malta
July 7, 2025
Court ruling ignored in Gozo development permit decision
In a development that has alarmed environmental watchdogs, legal experts, and the Maltese public, the Planning Authority (PA) in Gozo has once again found itself at the center of a...
NEWS Malta
July 4, 2025
Medical school plans scrapped for rehab facility lease
What was once pitched as a cornerstone of Malta’s public health vision — the establishment of a new medical school at the Campus Hub within the University of Malta grounds...
NEWS Malta
June 26, 2025
Gozo Aquatic Centre Opening Delayed Again by Minister
The Gozo Aquatic Centre, once heralded as a key investment in enhancing sports infrastructure on the island, has encountered yet another postponement in its anticipated opening. Originally expected to be...
NEWS Malta
June 26, 2025
Planning Authority Faces Legal Clash Over Sannat Permits
The Planning Authority of Malta is facing increasing criticism for its recent actions regarding a controversial development project in Sannat, Gozo. The development, which was spearheaded by construction magnate Joseph...