News | Sunday, 14 June 2009

PRINT THIS ARTICLE

Smothered by construction

In 15 years, as many as 4,859 football fields’ worth of land was developed

James Debono
An area equivalent to some 4,859 football fields was developed and built in the space of 15 years in Malta, latest statistics show.
Testifying to the enormous sprawl of development on the Maltese islands and the unstoppable construction industry, over 19.7 square kilometres of land was covered in residential and industrial developments between 1990 and 2005.
Coinciding with the construction boom of the past two decades, the urban sprawl saw Malta’s built-up area increase from 21.5% in 1990, to 27.7% in 2005, right before the extension of the building zones in 2006.
The statistics, tabled in the House of Representatives, show that 9.8 square km were developed between 1990 and 2000, while a further 9.7 square km were developed between 2000 and 2005.
At present, Malta has 87.4 square km of its land surface built up, while another 110 square km are under cultivation. This leaves just 112 square km untouched by human activity.

Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below.
Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.

All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.

EDITORIAL


The ghost of McCarthy

INTERVIEW