Malta planning insights

8,657 planning applications were validated in Malta and Gozo in the last 12 months, proposing 17,458 residential units. 4,314 applications are waiting for a decision.

Nothing further to request — every figure in the brief is now checked (the 42-unit reading of PA/07633/26 matches its full description: six apartments per level from first to sixth plus receded).

## PropertyList market brief — week to 28 October 2026

**Volume.** No clean weekly comparison: the register shows 0 cases validated 22–28 October against 1 in the previous eight weeks, as validation-date coverage ends in February 2026. PropertyList added 94 new cases (PA receipts mostly June–October, 88 pending) and 516 status updates from rechecks — 436 grants, 28 refusals — mostly on cases decided 2020–2025.

**Biggest new projects.** PA/07633/26 San Pawl il-Bahar: 42 apartments on seven levels above ground-floor shops and garages, over three basement levels; representations to 4 December. PA/07622/26 Fgura (17 units), PA/07631/26 Ghajnsielem (12), PA/07655/26 Munxar (12), PA/07696/26 Gudja (10). Hospitality: PA/07658/26 St Julians upgrades an approved 30-room Class 3A guesthouse to a 39-room Class 3B hotel; PA/07614/26 merges two adjoining hotels; PA/07654/26 Rabat (Gozo) converts a hotel into the Gozo Law Courts.

**Decisions.** Grants newly recorded, with 2026 decision dates: PA/05175/25 Mosta (29 units, April), PA/03731/25 Xaghra (11, May), PA/00452/26 Qormi (8, July), PA/04788/25 Naxxar and PA/05312/25 Rabat (Gozo) (7 each), PA/01723/25 Birzebbuga (Class 3A to 3B, extra floor). Of 28 refusals, 12 are ODZ and only two minor ones date from 2026; the largest, PA/00003/22 Kercem (20 units) and PA/00026/23 Mellieha (18), are from 2022 and 2024.

**Standouts.** Gozo supplied 19 of 94 new cases (20% v 15% register-wide); Qormi and St Julians six each. Category mix is unremarkable (sanctioning 28% v 34%).

**For the trades.** The 2026 grants are entering construction and fit-out now; the San Pawl il-Bahar block and St Julians hotels are at representation stage, so M&E and interiors are a year-plus out. Units and floors are read from descriptions, status coverage is incomplete, and refusal reasons need case officer reports (PropertyList extension).

Where new homes are planned

• San Pawl il-Bahar: 2198 residential units in 292 applications
• Msida: 1134 residential units in 135 applications
• Birkirkara: 1064 residential units in 244 applications
• Mosta: 998 residential units in 234 applications
• Sliema: 894 residential units in 228 applications
• Qormi: 889 residential units in 204 applications
• Zurrieq: 799 residential units in 160 applications
• Naxxar: 796 residential units in 161 applications
• Gzira: 781 residential units in 102 applications
• Marsaskala: 778 residential units in 164 applications
• Pieta: 727 residential units in 73 applications
• Birzebbuga: 724 residential units in 150 applications
• Hamrun: 722 residential units in 134 applications
• Santa Venera: 708 residential units in 95 applications
• Zabbar: 681 residential units in 178 applications

Approval rate by type of works

• Sanctioning: 95% of 9212 decided applications granted
• Demolition & New Construction: 97% of 3581 decided applications granted
• New Construction: 96% of 2974 decided applications granted
• Alterations & Extensions: 97% of 2920 decided applications granted
• Change of Use: 92% of 1813 decided applications granted
• Other: 93% of 1214 decided applications granted
• Permit Renewal: 99% of 1193 decided applications granted
• Restoration: 100% of 859 decided applications granted
• Agricultural: 90% of 543 decided applications granted
• Demolition: 98% of 414 decided applications granted
• Solar: 97% of 330 decided applications granted
• Signage: 97% of 299 decided applications granted
• Minor: 96% of 294 decided applications granted
• Billboard: 73% of 151 decided applications granted
• Hotel: 97% of 120 decided applications granted
• Infrastructure: 98% of 98 decided applications granted
• Pool: 96% of 85 decided applications granted
• Educational: 95% of 43 decided applications granted

Fastest-growing localities

• Ta' Xbiex: 45 applications in the last 12 months (+105%)
• Mdina: 16 applications in the last 12 months (+60%)
• Floriana: 67 applications in the last 12 months (+46%)
• Sannat: 77 applications in the last 12 months (+43%)
• Kirkop: 35 applications in the last 12 months (+40%)
• Xewkija: 109 applications in the last 12 months (+28%)
• Munxar: 67 applications in the last 12 months (+26%)
• Pieta: 92 applications in the last 12 months (+24%)