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The Maltese Herald

Development adjacent to building collapse in Paceville under investigation by BCA

โ€”

by

Gerald Fenech
in ,

The ongoing construction next to the site of last night’s building collapse in Paceville is under investigation by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). It appears that the BCA issued a stop notice on the works Tuesday morning following a site inspection and a resident’s report. Residents had reported large cracks in their walls during the adjacent construction works.

However, architect Chris Mintoff, who drew up a report on the site which collapsed on Wednesday night, indicated that the excavation works next door did not really affect the building’s structural failure. It appears that the apartment block already had structural issues following an extension carried out five years earlier.

Notwithstanding this, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority stopped the works next door as well as taking action on the site.

Another development by Excel Developments

The developers of the site in question are Excel Developments Ltd, a company fronted by mega developer Joseph Portelli, Mark Agius ‘Ta’ Dirjanu’ and Daniel Refalo.

The proposed development, located at โ€˜The Avenueโ€™ on the corner of Paceville Street and Triq Gort in San ฤ iljan, is currently under review by the Planning Authority.

The applicant, The Avenue Co. Ltd., represented by Charles Mangion, had submitted plans for the complete demolition of the existing structure on the site. The ambitious redevelopment includes:

  • Excavation of the entire plot

  • Construction of four basement levels comprising 75 parking spaces

  • Two Class 4D commercial outlets on the ground floor

  • 73 residential apartments beginning at Level 01 and above

  • A shared rooftop pool for residents

The scale of the development, in such a densely populated and high-traffic area, has drawn attention from the public and advocacy groups, particularly given the site’s proximity to established buildings and infrastructure.

There is also a development application for a 125 room hotel for the same site.

Damage to block

The block prior to its collapse. Photo Times of Malta

Photos seen by The Maltese Herald also confirm the damage done to the building whilst works were ongoing.

BCA issues statement confirming action taken

In a statement the BCA said that on Tuesday, 10th June, it issued an immediate stop work order on the site. Following further inspections and discussions with the architects involved, it was determined that there was a significant risk to the stability of the affected building. The police were promptly informed, and the building and the surrounding perimeter were evacuated to ensure public safety.

The Building and Construction Authority (BCA), supported by independent experts, is conducting inspections and safety evaluations following the collapse. Key actions include assessing nearby buildings for structural safety, investigating the cause of the incident, and overseeing the safe clearance of the site. The BCA emphasizes its commitment to maintaining high safety standards and will provide further updates as the investigation continues.

Comments

6 responses to “Development adjacent to building collapse in Paceville under investigation by BCA”

  1. Wish avatar
    Wish

    Miracle Island! How long did it take to issue a stop notice from when the complaint was raised?

    Reply
  2. Ganni Borg avatar
    Ganni Borg

    Thank God no one got hurt, but this simply cannot go on. Because eventually fatalities will happen. And then we cry and cry and set up another agency to seem like we are doing something but in substance nothing changes. Because we do not afford the construction industry to slow down, otherwise we will not be able to maintain the ballooning national debt.

    Reply
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