The Malta Environment and Planning Authority Chairman, Andrew Calleja, submitted his resignation yesterday. The news of his resignation became known as the board of MEPA presented its proposals for the reform the Authority.

The MEPA board is suggesting, amongst other things, that the appeals board be completely autonomous and that its location, funding and administration should be totally independent of MEPA.

The proposals document, called "Change for Sustainable Growth," recommends that only two commissions should deal with development instead of the current three. It also proposes that members of these commissions should be employed on a full-time basis with the Authority.

One of the two commissions would deal with applications for areas outside development zones or major projects whilst the other would consider all other applications.

The board's proposals also include the setting up of a new unit to be called the "Environmental and Planning Screening Unit" which would study certain development applications and identify environmental and planning constraints. This would in turn help the proposer of the application to re-consider costs, development constraints and further requirements which may be necessary such as an environmental impact assessment.

A copy of the "Change for Sustainable Growth" document is available for download on this link.