Professional Documents
Culture Documents
21 November 2017
Sustainable development: history & concepts
Spatial planning and sustainability
Malta: SD challenges
Spatial planning in Malta
Opportunities through spatial planning
1972 1992 2002 2012 2015
• Stockholm • RIO • Johannesburg • Rio • SDGs Agenda
• Declaration • Agenda 21 • MDGs • The Future We 2030
• UNFCCC Want
• CBD
• UNCCD
1983 – World Commission on Environment & Development
Population, Economic growth, political ideologies
Growth rate of global population
Inequality in distribution of wealth (N‐S divide)
q y
Post World War II – Cold War (E‐S divide)
Democratisation
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights
G Hardin, 1968
Development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
World Commission on Environment & Development
(Bruntland Definition)
• Common but differentiated responsibilities
• Inter generational equity
Inter‐generational equity
• Intra‐generational equity
• Justice
• p
Participation
• Gender equality
• Precautionary principle
y pp
• Ecosystems approach
• Polluter pays principle
Agenda 21
Chapter 10
Integrated Approach to the Planning and Management of Land
Resources
Objective
To facilitate allocation of land to the uses that provide the greatest
sustainable benefits and to promote the transition to a sustainable
bl b f d h bl
and integrated management of land resources. In doing so,
environmental, social and economic issues should be taken into
consideration.
id ti
Spatial planning has a special potential as a
coordinating instrument to integrate environment,
coordinating instrument to integrate environment
social and economic considerations into sectoral
policies
(2001, Ministry for Environment, Denmark)
430 000
430,000
315 sq
q km
1364 /sq km
>2,000,000
Archipelago
Sovereign State
Background and Context
Harrison and Hubbard 1945
Primary concern reconstruction of Valetta and the Three cities
Stressed need for a planning scheme for greater Valletta Region and
establishment of a Town Planning Commission
Warned: without them it is certain that the problems inseparable from city
growth will grow yearly more complex, and their solution more costly
Wynder Morris 1959
Proposed
new code of building regulations
g g
setting up of a planning authority
Enactment of provisional Town and Country Planning Law
[WWII aftermath]
1960 Code of Police Laws amended to enable drawing up of a Master Plan
for Development
1967 Report of Joint Mission for Malta
Recommendation:
‘we strongly urge that the work of preparing a land use plan for the islands
be pushed ahead as rapidly as possible’
1969: Town and Country Planning Act drafted
Development Plan for Malta until 1985 was prepared but never legalised
Development continued to be piecemeal
[1964 Independence]
1988 Preliminary Study (Switzer; Wells‐Thorpe)
Development takes place in a haphazard, unorderly way which was wasteful of
land and in the provisions of roads water sewerage and electricity service
land, and in the provisions of roads, water, sewerage and electricity service
Recommend the establishment of a Planning Authority and preparation of a
Structure Plan for the Maltese Islands
1988 Temporary Provisions Act
Introduced concept that regulation of development has to have as its objective
‘ optimal physical use and development of land which respects the environment
and at the same time ensures basic social needs of the country are as far as
practical satisfied’
[ 8 B dtl d Report]
[1987: Brundtland R t]
Population Density
(
(1995, 2003)
)
Percentage of land area developed
1967
9 7 55.9%
9 1985
9 5 16% 20055 23%
3
Land under cultivation
1957 138 6 sq km
138.6 sq 43.8%
43 8%
1983 93.3 sq km 29.5%
2010 114 sq km 36%
(
(utilised agricultural land)
g )
Variety and intensity of activities increased over time putting more pressure for land
1992 Development Planning
Act
1997 Amendments to
Development Planning Act
extends control to sea
2001 MEPA is competent
authority for Planning and
Environment Protection
2010 Environment and
Development Planning Act
Development Planning Act –
Spatial Planning
2016 Development Planning
Act
Development Plan for Malta (20 years) Strategic policies to guide
development in all sectors
Settlement pattern
Built environment
Housing g
Social and Community Facilities
Commerce and Industry
Agriculture, Horticulture and Fisheries
Minerals
Tourism and Recreation
Transport
Conservation
Public Utilities
A comprehensive plan within a context where the regulatory and administrative
framework was centralised and sectoral
From 1989…
To the new millenium
(2000)
Declaration of sites of natural
& cultural importance:
• Areas of Ecological Importance
• Sites of Scientific Importance
• Areas of Archaeological
Importance
• Areas of High Landscape Value
• Areas of High Agricultural Value
Planning instruments:
Plan making: SEA
Development control: EIA
Legislative requirements:
Consultation/access to justice
take into account social, economic and
take into account social economic and
environmental plans and objectives
DPA 2016 takes forward provisions of EDPA 2010 calling for a Strategic
Plan for Environment and Development SPED
‐ shall be based on an integrated planning system
‐ regulating the sustainable use and management of land and sea
resources.
From Land Use Planning to Spatial Planning
Integration of other aspects when planning for and regulating development
aimed at:
‐ efficient use of land territory and
‐ addressing best use of the site to avoid environmental impacts and
‐ support societies and social communities
d l
[1988 TPA]
EU 2020 Strategy
National Reform Program National Operational Program VISION 2015
National Strategy for Sustainable Development – SD ACT 2012
NEP
Principles to manage
environment; prioritises
THEMATIC POLICIES action for implementation
SPED
Spatial Air Quality Plan
Energy Policy
translation ECO Gozo
Water Catchment
Promotes and guides
Management Plan
socio economic growth Culture Policy Rural Development Plan
and protect the
environment Water Policy
Transport Policy Aquaculture Policy
Waste Management
Indicating where and Strategy
which type of Sports Policy
Tourism Policy
development can or
cannot take place Biodiversity Action Plan
…
Noise Action Plan
IPPC LCPD
IPPC; LCPD
CO‐ORDINATION & INTEGRATION
Focus on the context of Distinct units
national territory
Ub
Urban Area
A
To strengthen spatial planning tool
Rural Area
To promote liveable neighbourhoods
Coastal & Marine Area
To curb and reverse trend and
perceptions on how to plan for urban Gozo
development
IIn preparing
i policies,
li i plans
l and
d programmes Government
G t will
ill adopt
d ta
sequential approach to the use of land:
Thematic
Policy Objectives
Socio-economic Development
Environment
Climate Change
Travel Patterns
Policy
P li Objectives
Obj ti for
f
Spatial Structure
Regulating services (water cycling, pollination)
Cultural services (recreation, education, aesthetic values)
Support services (soil formation, photosynthesis)
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005
Increase green open space (TO1.7)
Facilitate wastewater polishing infrastructure (TO4.9)
p g 49
Focus resources for positive action in pollution hotspots (TO
6.2)
P
Protect hydromorphological
h d h l i l processes (TO 7.4)
(TO )
Prevent soil sealing and erosion (TO 7.6)
Promote sustainable urban drainage systems (TO 7 11)
Promote sustainable urban drainage systems (TO 7.11)
Strengthen links within ecological network (TO 8.3)
Integrate rainwater management in road networks (TO10.5)
g g
Control cumulative effect of rural development (RO 1.7)
Facilitate implementation of MSFD (CO1.2)
Green infrastructure
Water absorption
Air quality
Aesthetic quality
Pollinators
Ecological corridors
Recreation
Addresses
Storm water
Traffic noise + air pollution
Support biodiversity
Mental health
Local challenges:
Lack of experience
Feasibility
Urbanised culture
Resistance to change
Lack of incentives
SD: A recent journey
Public participation Empowerment for change
Integration Respecting and reflecting
di
diversity
it
Long term approach Constant challenge
g
Points to take home…
Spatial planning is one tool for SD
Players in spatial planning:
Policy makers
Decision makers
Applicants
General public
Each stakeholder needs to carry out respective role responsibly for
a common goal that is context based and where action is built on
l th t i t t b d d h ti i b ilt
facts
michelle.borg@pa.org.mt