Developers' plan to trade airspace rights 'gains traction' with government

The possibility of trading airspace near village cores for further development rights in other localities was “just a concept” but appears to have gone down well with the government, according to the planning consultant who floated the idea.

Stephen Farrugia told the Times of Malta developers wanted to trade development projects near quaint town and village cores for better deals on construction projects in other areas.

The idea was suggested during a meeting between Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and the Malta Developers’ Association on Wednesday.

MDA head Sandro Chetcuti said a new technical committee had been drafting proposals aimed at encouraging developers not to build in Malta’s remaining unspoiled urban areas. “Our towns and villages are disappearing and this is something we want to act against,” he told Dr Muscat, who welcomed the thought of an innovative solution for the construction lobby.

Delving deeper into the proposal, Mr Farrugia, a former Malta Environment and Planning Authority director and a former president of the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers, said the issue of “stock trading” was based on a system used overseas to protect iconic urban areas from...