Town centre residences with heavy traffic to benefit from restoration scheme

Properties of residential private owners and voluntary organisations situated along a number of streets in town centres where levels of traffic are higher than the norm can benefit from a Planning Authority restoration grant scheme.

The Irrestawra l-Faċċata scheme, which will have an accumulated fund of €2 million, was launched by the Planning Authority’s Executive Chairperson Martin Saliba in the presence of the Minister for the Environment, Climate Change & Planning Hon. Aaron Farrugia and the respective mayors of the localities which will be benefiting from this scheme.

PA Executive Chairperson Martin Saliba said, “Through this scheme, the PA is seeking to regenerate a number of streets along town centers, which due to the high volume of traffic passing through them find difficulty with maintaining the façade fabric of their residence which experience accelerated deterioration as a result of traffic pollution.”

Saliba pointed out that “the Authority has always been a front-liner at making funds widely available to promote and safeguard our common heritage. Through the Irrestawra Darek Scheme alone, which was launched under three editions since 2017, the Authority made available €25 million and assisted 355 first time buyers, 151 Grade 1 or 2 scheduled buildings, 42 voluntary organisations and 2,058 private owners of residences within village core areas.”

This scheme is open to owners of private residences or voluntary organisations who have a property within the urban conservation area of the following streets: Triq D’Argens in Msida, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp in Hamrun/Sta Venera, Triq il-Wied in Birkirkara, Triq Stiefnu Zerafa, Triq is-Salib tal-Marsa, Triq Patri Felicjan Bilocca and Triq Balbi in Marsa,  Triq Bormla, Triq Ħal Tarxien and Triq Ħal Luqa in Paola, Triq Ħal Tarxien and Triq Paola in Tarxien and Triq il-Kbira in Rabat (Malta). In total, the scheme covers approximately 5km of streets.

Through this scheme the Authority is committing to finance 100% (up to €10,000 per property) of the expenses for the works related to maintenance, restoration or replacement of traditional façade elements including masonry, timber elements and wrought iron works.

In addition, the grant will also include a maximum of €800 and €200 for professional fees and Local Council permit fees, respectively.

To apply for the scheme, private property owners or voluntary organisations must submit their online application through a Perit. The scheme will open between the 15th of July and 30th of September 2021 or earlier if the take up of funds is over subscribed.

The maps of the eligible streets and the guidelines related to the Irrestawra l-Faċċata restoration scheme may be downloaded from the PA’s website: www.pa.org.mt/irrestawra-faccata.