Planning Commission chair Claude Mallia resigns

Planning Commission chairperson Claude Mallia has resigned, just over a year after he was appointed, the Planning Authority has confirmed.

A spokesman for the authority said Mallia had resigned “to pursue career moves/changes”. No official statement was issued by the authority about the resignation.

The commission assesses planning applications that fall within development zones.

Claude Mallia has “an opportunity for a change in career”.

Mallia had been appointed in November 2020 to replace Simon Saliba following the persistent calls for the latter’s removal by several environmental NGOs.

They had accused Saliba of “siding with developers” during hearings. Saliba was then relegated to serving as a member of the PA’s regularisation committee.

There have been no such complaints against Mallia.

Commission chairs and members are appointed to fixed terms of three years and the government cannot remove them from the boards altogether. They can ask them to take on a different role within a different commission.

When contacted, Mallia confirmed he had “an opportunity for a change in career”.

Asked whether he had resigned because of any possible conflicts of interest, Mallia replied:...