Law Blog

There is a claim in public debate that Bill No. 144 of 2025 “kills” the courts’ power in planning appeals. Yet, I always insisted that such claim is a total untruth in the sense that the Bill clarifies—rather than curtails—the Court of Appeal (Inferior Jurisdiction)’s supervisory function over the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal. Indeed, […]

The recurring call for the “revision of Local Plans” is often presented as a sweeping reform, but in truth the real substance lies primarily in just two matters. The first concerns ODZ boundaries: whether to extend development zones as happened in 2006 with the rationalization excercise or, conversely, to restore undeveloped rationalised land back to […]

As expected, even the slightest hint of changes to planning laws generates strong reactions. Most of the information available to the public comes through the media, since few would willingly engage with the detailed laws and draft proposals themselves. To complicate matters further, planning law—something I am reminded of whenever I speak with colleagues—is often […]

Another strand of the reform exercise concerns Article 103 of the Development Planning Act, which has always stood as the central penal clause of the statute. It criminalises unauthorised development, breaches of conditions, contraventions of scheduling and conservation orders, disobedience of enforcement notices, obstruction of officials, and the making of false declarations. Conviction carries not […]

Another matter brought into focus by Bill No. 143 concerns the operation of Article 102 of the Development Planning Act, which links the supply of water and electricity to planning compliance. The original text required a compliance certificate confirming that development was either in accordance with a permission or had been conceded or approved under […]

Another issue worth recalling in the context of Bill No. 143 is the recalibration of Article 100 of the Development Planning Act, which remains the cornerstone of planning enforcement. The provision has always operated on two fronts: direct execution by the Authority where an offender fails to comply, and the imposition of daily fines designed […]