We, the undersigned, appeal to the Government of Malta as a democratically elected Government, to reconsider the current position on the proliferation of high rise buildings and other unsustainable building projects being proposed or carried out in Malta and Gozo. As citizens, residents and/or visitors of Malta, we are concerned at the lack of vision in the current policies, mainly:

1. The lack of a proper holistic master plan with regards to sustainable architecture.
2. The visual impact and aesthetic value of these structures on the Maltese landscape.
3. The overall impact and lack of harmonisation of all these structures together.
4. The lack of longterm infrastructural planning surrounding these projects.
5. The physical strains of expanding our infrastructure to accomodate such plans.
6. The constant erosion of our countryside.
7. The lax and inconsistent approach to ODZ designated areas.
8. The increase in noise and air pollution.
9. The lack of real demand for such buildings when there are so many vacant properties.
10. The economic sustainability of so many ‘luxury’ projects and their effect on the housing market.
11.  The existing lack of legislation which will cover the demolition and regeneration of such projects once their lifespan is exhausted.

We strongly feel that such projects are eroding our quality of life, destroying the aesthetic value of our landscape, impacting on the value of our country as a tourist destination, and devaluing our architectural heritage. We also insist that a proper long-term vision for Malta be drawn up, discussed properly with society at large.

We ask that a  moratorium on such large scale developments be imposed until such time as a holistic masterplan is in place that ensures that  public land is properly valued , any development is necessity driven, and properly assessed with regard to its social, economic and environmental  impact and sustainability.