Evaluating urban landscape quality in Birżebbuġa

Abstract

Malta’s status as a signatory of the European Landscape Convention along with the increase in urbanisation observed in Malta underscore the need for improved planning. This study analyses urban landscape quality (ULQ) in Birżebbuġa (Malta), using an Urban Landscape Quality Index (ULQI) and a survey regarding resident perceptions. The study revealed spatial variations in landscape quality, indicating the positive influence of green spaces and general lack of abandoned buildings along with negative impacts including buildings under construction and lack of cycling infrastructure. The findings reveal ∼70% similarity between resident perceptions and observation results, with perception-based data showing more negative results than that of the observation exercise. Thematic analysis of open-ended survey questions indicated that issues of governance, overdevelopment, inadequate green spaces, and poor waste management as the factors that negatively affect urban landscape quality. Overall ULQ was found to vary across the locality. The rankings of neighbourhoods by ULQ produced near-identical results between the observation exercise and the survey (only one neighbourhood differed in its order between the two rankings), with both methods concluding that the neighbourhood of Tal-Papa has the highest ULQ while the neighbourhood of San Ġorġ has the lowest ULQ. The study recommends future research on pollution levels in the locality, the quality of green/open spaces, and residents' perceptions of governance. Despite limitations in sample size and subjectivity, the ULQI methodology proves effective in assessing urban landscape quality in Birżebbuġa. The research contributes insights into the current state of urban landscape quality and illustrates a foundation for improving urban landscape quality in Malta. Replicating the study with representative sample sizes and involving multiple researchers would enhance the accuracy of findings. With some fine-tuning, this research can act as a resource for future initiatives targeting the enhancement of ULQ throughout the Maltese Islands.