The Planning Authority in collaboration with the Parliamentary Secretary for EU funds and social dialogue have launched a €2 million balcony grant scheme for residences on the Marsamxett of the capital Valletta.
The scheme seeks to help alleviate the financial cost of restoring and maintaining traditional balconies, especially those made out of timber, in order to encourage their continued use. The grant scheme is being made available for open and closed balconies within properties that are used as residences. This excludes offices, commercial buildings, non government organisations or religious buildings.
To encourage residents to take up this one time opportunity and help improve the quality of life within this zone, the scheme will fully fund the works associated with the restoration or replacement of the open or timber balcony. The scheme has pledge to cover up to a maximum of €8000 per closed 4 panel timber balcony. This includes the costs for the hiring of scaffolding during the works and the installation of double glazing so as to improve the energy efficiency within the property. An applicant will only require planning permission in the form of a DNO if the works include the partial or full replacement of the balcony. The applicant will need to cover any fees related with local council permits and professional fees of an architect if the need arises. Eligible works are determined by the date of receipts, which have to be dated not earlier than 1st November 2018.
80% of the grant scheme will be paid for by EU funds, while the remaining 20% will be covered by the Planning Authority’s Irrestawra Darek initiative. The scheme will close on the 31st January 2019 or earlier if the funds are exhausted. The works related to the restoration or replacement of the balconies must be completed by 30th September 2019.
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