The construction boom is well and truly here after the Planning Authority approved just under 10,500 planning applications in 2018 alone.

To put things into perspective, that’s roughly 28 applications every single day

Parliamentary figures tabled by Planning Minister Ian Borg, on the request of MP Marthese Portelli, revealed that there were a total 10,455 approved applications last year.

Unsurprisingly, densely populated areas that are often subject to widespread development such as St Paul’s Bay (520), Birkirkara (422), Mosta (412), Sliema (383) and Qormi (374) have seen the most planning applications approved.

Other areas like Mellieħa, Naxxar, Ħaż-Żabbar, and Ħaż-Żebbuġ all recorded more than 300 approved applications.

The figures include both first-round approvals and approvals upon appeal.

The construction industry is currently under the microscope after a series building collapses forced the government to launch fast-tracked reforms for parts of the sector. However, it remains to be seen precisely when wholesale changes will be introduced.

A protest against the “developers’ dictatorship” is taking place later today at 6pm starting in front of St Luke’s Hospital.

A full list of localities and the number of approvedapplications can be found below: