Muscat’s application to build his home approved in just one month under 1998 Labour government

This must be one of the most speedily approved development permits ever in the history of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.

The year was 1998, and the Labour Party was in government. The applicant was a Labour Party television reporter called Joseph Muscat, widely known to be the court favourite of Labour leader Alfred Sant, who was then prime minister.

Muscat had applied to demolish an existing building at 52 Triq San Pawl Milqi in Burmarrad and build “a store at basement level, ground floor terraced house and swimming pool, first floor maisonette and overlying washrooms”. The application was presented on his 24th birthday, 22 January 1998.

The ‘sponsoring architect’ was Alfred Grech, a partner in the architectural practice of Charles Buhagiar. Buhagiar was then the cabinet minister responsible for Public Projects and Construction, and his personal assistant was a young woman called Michelle Tanti, who was the applicant’s girlfriend at the time and who is now his wife. Miss Tanti had also worked as a public relations adviser to Sant, which is how the two had met.

The application was approved just a month later, on 27 February, even though the period during which objections could be made ran until 3 March and the target date was 16 April.

PA00362/98 – applicant Joseph Muscat

Reception date: 22/01/98
Validated: 22/01/98
Target date: 16/04/98
Representations expiry period: 02/03/98
DPA report recommending approval: 26/02/98
Approved by DCC: 27/02/98

The application to build their home was approved in just one month, before the objection period expired, when he was a Super One reporter, Alfred Sant was prime minister, Charles Buhagiar was minister responsible for the planning authority, and she was personal assistant to the minister.