Irrestawra Darek scheme: €6.5m for Eastern Region, €1m for scheduled properties outside UCAs

Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Jonathan Attard reopened the Irrestawra Darek scheme, now for the Eastern Region, with an allocation of €6.5 million, together with an additional allocation of €1 million for properties which are Grade 1 and Grade 2 located outside Urban Conservation Areas (UCAs), as part of the scheme ‘Irrestawra Darek u l-Villaġġ’.

A government statement Thursday said Minister Attard noted that while more than €33 million had been allocated to similar restoration schemes over the past 30 years, the Government has already allocated €32 million in the first six months of this year alone. This means that in just half a year, investment has nearly matched the total allocated over the past three decades.

“This scheme continues to assist property owners, businesses and non-governmental organisations in investing in the restoration and conservation of Malta’s and Gozo’s built heritage, while improving the quality of life within our communities,” said Minister Attard.

The minister emphasised that this scheme is not merely a form of financial assistance, but a direct investment in preserving Malta’s architectural identity and safeguarding its cultural heritage for future generations.

“Through the scheme ‘Irrestawra Darek u l-Villaġġ’, we are investing in our communities, strengthening the identity of our towns and villages, restoring our built heritage and protecting what makes Malta and Gozo unique,” Minister Attard stated.

The minister also highlighted the strong demand for the scheme and the public’s confidence in the initiative, with more than 1,300 submissions currently being processed.

Minister Attard reiterated that the scheme forms part of the Government’s commitment towards a more sustainable and responsible development, in line with the objectives of the Malta Vision 2050, which seeks to strike a balance between economic growth, environmental protection and the preservation of the country’s unique characteristics.

The Executive Chairperson of the Planning Authority, Johann Buttigieg, stated that “through these funds, we are not only restoring façades for the benefit of our communities, but we are also helping people improve their homes, encouraging first-time buyers to return to the heart of our villages, and supporting the tourism sector by preserving traditional architecture and keeping both our tangible and intangible heritage alive.”

Applications are currently open and will close on 25 June, or earlier if all allocated funds are exhausted. The scheme covers the localities of Birkirkara, Sliema, St Julian’s, Msida, Ta’ Xbiex, Lija, Għargħur, and Pietà.

Also present was the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ronald Mizzi.

Further details regarding the submission of expressions of interest for the additional allocation announced today will be provided in the coming days.

More information about the scheme is available at https://pa.org.mt/irrestawra-darek-u-lvillagg.

 

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