Development control design policy, guidance and standards 2015

Abstract

Development Control Policy, Guidance and Standards 2015 (DC 15) is a collective commitment towards good design in our built environment. It is the result of a collaborative process led by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) and involving academia, practising periti, decision-makers and experts in the fields of sanitary law, transport and conservation. This is a positive document, based on the recognition that there are some important, basic, parameters that must be clearly established in order to guarantee the formation of successful streets and thus establishes ‘context’ as the leading principle in design, assessment and decision-making of any development proposal. At the same time, it acknowledges that contexts differ and that ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions are not always applicable, or indeed desirable. The document’s role is also to enable innovative and creative urban and architectural designs that are framed within the important urban design parameters, which in turn are tailor-made to the unique Maltese territory, its urban areas and landscape. The formulation of DC 15 has been equally informed by urban design and architectural theory, ‘on the ground’ practice and the wealth of experience gained along the years in policy-making and decision taking. A significant effort has been made to correct any vague or unclear definitions, statements and policies present within Development Control Policy and Design Guidance 2007 (DC 07), also through the experience of the document’s implementation in practice over the past eight years. Qualitative and quantitative considerations have been placed on an equal footing and, in some cases, qualitative performance criteria are given more weight than quantitative standards. However the document is not merely a revision of DC 07 – DC 15 constitutes a new direction in terms of urban and architectural design policy, guidance and standards. Within the document there is a clear departure from a single typology of policy provision to a new framework composed of policy, good-practice guidance and technical specifications. Illustrations selected from both local and foreign contexts are meant to clearly demonstrate the intended spirit of individual document provisions and to further promote the achievement of good design on the ground. Through the above considerations, it is hoped that DC 15 may encourage and stimulate urban and architectural design that is respectful of, and that enriches, its existing context while also being forward-looking, quality-oriented and energy-conscious.