Residents and local organisations in Għaxaq have expressed disappointment and concern following a Court of Appeal ruling that upheld the permit for a new fireworks factory proposed by Għaqda tan-Nar San Gabriel of Tarxien....
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NEWS Malta
April 24, 2026
Archdiocese of Malta farmhouse conversion surpasses €500,000 in costs
More than half a million euro has reportedly already been disbursed through the financial channels of the Archdiocese of Malta for the redevelopment of a rural farmhouse in Rabat into...
NEWS Malta
April 14, 2026
Gozo planning review and Xewkija project raise policy questions
A planning policy review concerning land on the outskirts of Xewkija in Gozo has entered a decisive phase, with officials indicating that a full environmental assessment may not be required....
NEWS Malta
March 11, 2026
Ta’ Qali illegal dump grows despite enforcement attempts
A large area in Ta’ Qali that was once an agricultural field has, over the past decade, gradually transformed into a dumping ground for construction waste and abandoned vehicles. Despite...
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
February 26, 2026
Palazzo Buleben hotel permit raises sale talks with government
The owners of Palazzo Buleben, an 18th century historic residence in Żebbuġ, have been engaged in discussions with the Government of Malta regarding a potential sale of the property. These...
NEWS Malta
February 19, 2026
Fawwara quarry expansion approved despite court eviction order ruling
The Planning Authority has approved the expansion of the long-debated Fawwara quarry in Siggiewi, issuing a fresh ten-year operational permit for further mineral extraction at the site. The decision relates...
NEWS Malta
February 18, 2026
Illegal Development Near Malta Airport Sparks Concern
An extensive unauthorised development located within metres of a runway at Malta International Airport has prompted renewed scrutiny of planning enforcement practices in Malta. The site, which reportedly includes large...
NEWS Malta
February 17, 2026
Malta Planning Reform Controversy Over Bills 143 and 144
Civil society organisations in Malta have renewed their warnings regarding the government’s proposed reform of the national planning framework, expressing concern that legislative delays are leaving communities exposed to irreversible...
NEWS Malta
February 13, 2026
Villa area dispute grows in Ta’ Xbiex over new proposal
Residents in one of Ta’ Xbiex’s designated villa areas have formally objected to a new planning control application that they argue could alter the long established character of their neighbourhood....
NEWS Malta
February 9, 2026
Comino Blue Lagoon kiosks remain despite illegal status
Comino’s Blue Lagoon, one of Malta’s most iconic natural sites, is once again facing a summer season dominated by unregulated commercial activity. Despite years of public commitments by successive tourism...
NEWS Malta
February 2, 2026
St Paul Bay residents oppose proposed Triq San Pawl hotel
St Paul Bay has become the focus of renewed planning controversy following a proposal to redevelop the site of the former HSBC outlet on Triq San Pawl into an eight...
NEWS Malta
January 28, 2026
Former Planning Authority official awarded public consultancy role
A controversy has emerged in Malta’s public planning sector after a former senior official of the Planning Authority returned to the payroll of the same government agency through a direct...
NEWS Malta
January 22, 2026
Questions emerge over Gozo hospital helipad announcement
In a public announcement this month, Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela stated that a new helipad facility will be constructed at Gozo General Hospital later this year. The declaration prompted...
NEWS Malta
January 19, 2026
Anton Refalo boutique hotel L-Eremita planning application
Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo, one of the longest-serving members of Prime Minister Robert Abela’s Cabinet, has submitted a new planning application connected to his family-run boutique hotel in Qala. The...
NEWS Malta
January 14, 2026
Planning Authority clears site changes for major Xemxija project
The Planning Authority has formally approved a planning control application submitted by developer Charles Polidano, widely known as iċ-Ċaqnu, clearing the way for a significant reconfiguration of land parcels in...
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 1, 2025
Xlendi ridge project moves forward amid concern
A major residential project proposed for the ridge above Xlendi Bay is poised to receive approval from the Planning Authority, even though it has been the subject of significant public...
NEWS Malta
November 17, 2025
Planning board appointment dispute risks permit uncertainty
A procedural oversight involving Planning Minister Clint Camilleri and recently appointed Permanent Secretary Mario Borg has triggered a complex legal dispute that may affect the legal stability of multiple development...
NEWS Malta
October 29, 2025
Buskett redevelopment refused over Natura 2000 concerns
The Planning Authority (PA) has recommended the outright refusal of an application to redevelop a ruined structure located within the Buskett area, on the grounds that the proposed works would...
NEWS Malta
October 27, 2025
NGOs warn of UNESCO action over Ġgantija temple project
A coalition of environmental and heritage organizations has issued a formal warning that they may turn to UNESCO if the Planning Authority proceeds with an application to build a 27-apartment...
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
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
August 19, 2025
Marco Gaffarena’s Kirkop warehouse permit sparks controversy
The name of Marco Gaffarena has long been linked to controversial planning issues in Malta, and his latest project has once again drawn significant public attention. The developer, widely remembered...
NEWS Malta
August 13, 2025
Malta NGOs warn over planning amnesty for illegal developments
A coalition of prominent Maltese environmental and heritage organisations has issued a strong joint statement expressing deep concern over the government’s latest legislative measures that, they believe the measures offer...
NEWS Malta
August 4, 2025
Controversial Qajjenza Development by Paul Attard Nears Approval
A major development project led by Paul Attard, secretary general of the Malta Developers Association (MDA) and a central figure in the local construction industry, is expected to secure planning...
NEWS Malta
August 4, 2025
Malta Planning Law Reforms Shelved Amid Backlash
Proposed legislative changes to Malta's planning framework, tabled in Parliament just before the summer recess, have reportedly been shelved following a wave of opposition from civil society, professional bodies, and...