The Government has formally requested that the Planning Authority prepare a new planning guidance document to regulate temporary outdoor sports events and facilities in rural areas.
The initiative follows an increasing number of proposals for temporary outdoor sporting activities such as obstacle courses, endurance challenges and trail-based events taking place in rural areas and open countryside. While these activities are widely recognised as beneficial for recreation and healthy lifestyles, current planning policies do not provide detailed operational criteria or siting parameters for assessing such proposals.
Existing planning frameworks, including the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED) and the Rural Policy and Design Guidance (RPDG), acknowledge that certain recreational uses may be appropriate in rural areas when they are compatible with the rural landscape, environmentally responsible and reversible. However, the absence of dedicated national guidance has made it difficult to assess applications consistently.
The new guidance will therefore aim to establish a clear framework that balances recreational opportunities with the protection of Malta’s rural environment.
The objectives of the proposed guidance include:
• Regulating temporary outdoor sports events in a manner that safeguards the rural and natural environment while supporting healthy lifestyles and community recreation.
• Considering legitimate and low-impact uses of rural land for temporary sporting activities in line with national planning objectives.
• Ensuring that temporary permits do not lead to permanent urbanisation and that all installations remain fully reversible.
• Providing clear guidance for both the Planning Authority and applicants when assessing proposals for such activities.
The new planning guidance will help ensure that outdoor sporting events can continue to develop in a structured and responsible manner, while protecting agricultural land, Natura 2000 sites and landscapes of high environmental value.
The Planning Authority invites the public to submit representations on the proposed guidance. Submissions should be made through the official online form below.
