Zammit, A; (2013) Urban design quality through development control: the case of Malta. Doctoral thesis (PhD), UCL (University College London).

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Abstract

Taking the island of Malta as a case study, this research questions the role of development control in delivering urban design quality. Authors have acknowledged the significance of this relationship. However, few studies have tried to assess both sides of the story, focusing instead on the study of either the planning process or final design outcome in isolation. These studies have also generally tended to rely exclusively on either qualitative or quantitative research methods. The Maltese plan‐led discretionary planning system is experiencing interesting times. Recent documents produced by the Kamra tal­‐Periti, the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers, together with central Government’s National Environment Policy, point to the need for an informed debate on urban design quality in the built environment. Central Government also initiated a planning reform in 2010, which to date has remained focused on the reform of planning procedures within the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, rather than on quality targets. These are also challenging times. The intense residential development that characterised the past decades occurred at the expense of broader qualitative considerations. Its consequences have been compounded by the restrictive spirit of current policy tools, their inadequacy in addressing urban design issues, and the approach of officers and decision‐makers in their regard. It is thus the optimal time to study the Maltese planning system. This research explores the multifarious debates surrounding development control, urban design quality and the Maltese planning context. Using a mixed four-­stage methodology comprising both quantitative and qualitative research tools, it subsequently develops ‘process’-­ and ‘product’-­related analytical frameworks that respectively assess key themes within the planning process and the quality of urban design outcome on the ground. At the concluding stage, the research draws these frameworks together to determine their possible relationship and provide recommendations to stimulate a rethinking of planning practice.

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