What does Spatial Planning really mean? - PN
Article from MaltaStar.com.
When addressing a Chamber of Architects and Chamber of Planners seminar on Spatial Planning and The Structure Plan Labour Shadow Minister Leo Brincat said today that the fact that there is now reference to spatial planning in the agreed upon Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development as part of the MEPA legislation that was finalised yesterday after 12 intensive committee sessions, is mainly attributable to the PL.
According to Brincat, from the very beginning of the national debate on the, so called, MEPA 'reform', the PL parliamentary group had taken a firm and public stand to go for Spatial Planning which is based on EU best practice while calling for the abandonment of The Structure plan which is archaic, outdated and has never been revised. At the time the PN had argued - What's in a name while asking sarcastically 'What does spartial planning really mean?'
To this, Brincat explained that Spatial Planning has as its basis a comprehensive and holistic approach that also ensures greater synergy between all government entities, agencies, ministries and departments to avoid duplication of work while providing for maximum input from all stakeholders to enusre that the most sustainable way forward is adopted.
Brincat revealed that spatial planning is so widespread in Europe that it is embraced in modern competitive countries like the Netherlands as well as in newly emerging European states like Kosovo.
Brincat called for a successful implementation process as well as for specific time frames to make sure that this new strategic plan will not remain a dead letter.
Unfortunately two key and pivotal PL proposals recommending the establishment of parliamentary environment and development scrutiny committee modelled on the Public Accounts Committee as well as the PL's call for separate Environmental Protection and Planning Agencies or Authorities were rejected by government.
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