Description

The Malta Chamber of Planners was set up on the 28th October 1997 by a small group of individuals who were the first graduates in planning following studies in the early nineties in the UK. A statute was drafted and approved and the Chamber was set up with its first President being Dr. Paul Gauci. Its main goals as set out in the statute include the following:

• to provide a professional framework in which the knowledge, understanding, and culture of planning and environmental management is advanced in Maltese society.
• to establish, maintain, and enhance professional standards in the planning and environmental management profession and to endeavour for high levels of achievement therein.

The Chamber has been a member of the European Council for Spatial Planners since 2002 and is also a member of the Commonwealth Association of Planners. The Chamber has also provided valuable input in the drafting of subsequent planning legislation amendments and has been outspoken on issues that affected and compromised appropriate spatial planning in the Maltese Islands. Since its inception, the Chamber has tirelessly worked on seeking recognition of the profession under various governments. Unfortunately, despite various important steps including a draft legislation, the profession is not yet recognised. This has led to disillusionment amongst spatial planners marring the quality of planning on the islands and a dearth of young planners. The Chamber intends to continue with its mission to advance proper spatial planning in the Maltese Islands as well as the planning profession to ensure that planning ultimately improves the well being of the local population. This can only be done by instilling a planning culture within public institutions especially Regional Councils and Local Councils as well as the local population to better understand and appreciate how proper planning is vital for a better quality of life.