Planning Authority funding new administrative building for the community of Marsascala

The locality of Marsascala will in the coming months have a new administrative building that will replace the local council’s offices and offer a number of facilities for use by the Marsascala community. The new building, which will be centrally located, is being constructed thanks to an investment of €530,000 from the Planning Authority’s Development Planning Fund.

The new two-storey administrative building, which is currently under construction, is located in the main square of the locality, close to the Marsascala Parish Church.

Perit Vincent Cassar, Chairperson for the Development Planning Fund, said “The local council of Marsascala has been wishing for this project to be realised for many years. It is thanks to the Planning Authority’s Development Planning Fund that this dream is now being implemented and effectively delivered for the benefit of the Marsascala community. Over the past years, this locality has registered one of the highest population growths and therefore it is befitting that the local council gets a new, modern and accessible facility from where to administer and provide essential services for its residents.”

Perit Cassar concluded by wishing the council and its residents well on this latest project while encouraging other local councils to come forward with their proposals as there remains €47 million available in the Development Planning Fund for projects which will benefit Maltese and Gozitan people.

The PA’s Development Planning Fund provides local councils and NGOs with the necessary financial support for them to be proactive and undertake projects that are aimed at improving the wellbeing, environment and social dimension of our towns and villages.

The PA recently also committed over €500,000 to help three local councils in Gozo carry out urban improvement projects within their localities. The projects included converting the street lighting in Pjazza San Gorg and the maze of narrow, winding alleys of Victoria with a new energy-efficient lighting system, the upgrading of equipment, paving and lighting of a playing field in Żebbug and new energy-efficient lamps around the Belveder Ta' Qaċċa in Xagħra.

The Development Planning Fund receives financing from a few different sources, with on-street parking fees being the most significant among them. Planning gains too make up a portion of the fund, whereby a developer of a sizeable new development is asked to make a financial contribution for the inconvenience caused in the locality where their development occurs.

The contribution, therefore, is kept within the locality to be used on projects that improve its community facilities and green areas.