Malta Developers Association President Michael Stivala has stuck by an allegation he had made regarding there being ulterior interests behind certain objections made to planning applications.

Mr Stivala was speaking during an interview with WhosWho.mt, where he also expressed concern about Malta's investment in infrastructure and spoke about the need to update Malta's aging local plans.

Responding to a question as to whether a local council should have the right to say no to large developments if residents don't want it, he says that discussions should always take place when regulations are being drafted.

"You cannot have a situation where an applicant files an application according to regulations, but because an objector objects, the permit isn't issued. the system doesn't work that way."

"You need to have local plans and regulations, and applications must be in conformity with those."

He noted that there are certain major applications on which one finds no objections, then many objections on others. "Sometimes we also see certain ulterior interests for certain objections.”

Mr Stivala was reiterating a claim he first made in 2023, that there are business people who want to harm their competitors going to activists and funding campaigns against them. When the allegation had been made, the MDA had submitted information tot he
The Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, which then said it was going to review the information.

NGOs had strongly rejected the allegation and said that they do not engage in such practices.

Mr Stivala said he stands by his statement.

“It still happens. This is something continuous. That is why we want reforms, so that if someone objects to an application, that application wouldn’t risk being stuck for 4-6 years.”

“We want a system where, if I were to object, the application would still go before the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal and the courts, but the decision must be taken within a short timeframe.”

He still refuses to name the people on which he is basing his allegations.

“I cannot name names,” he says, but adds that “everyone in the industry knows what is happening.”

“I can assure you that this is a reality that many developers and applicants face."

He adds that this does not only happen between businesses.

“This occasionally happens between neighbours who argue, where one knows that if they appeal they would spend a long time waiting until permits are issued. So it’s not just business interests, but there are also rivalries.”

Also asked during the interview whether he is willing to concede that the Planning Authority tends to favour developers, Mr Stivala says that the PA’s job is to ensure that applications conform with regulations.

“The Planning Authority should not be in favour of a developer, nor in favour of an objector.”

He stressed that the Authority obeys the laws drafted by the Government. “The Government creates the regulations, and the authority ensures that the permits it issues are in conformity. That is its important role.”

He says that the authority's role is also to prepare long-term plans and policy change proposals for the Government, for the latter to then approve.

The MDA President argues that the media tends to mention controversial projects, big projects, but also says that “there are certain individual developers who are attacked more than others.”

When the discussion about the proposed planning reforms took place, there were some who said the reform should be tossed out, he says. “I don't think that it is the best way forward. A reform is needed, and if there are certain parts of the reform that you don't agree with, change those parts. But let’s push for reform.”