BCA Files Police Report Over Deteriorating Burger King Building In Paceville
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has filed a police report over a deteriorating building in Paceville that houses the Burger King outlet, following concerns flagged in an architect’s report seen by MaltaToday.
The building is located at the corner of Triq il-Wilga and Triq id-Dragunara and also includes a shuttered outlet beneath the restaurant as well as apartments above, owned by different individuals. A long, vertical crack running from the top to the bottom of the façade is the most visible sign of structural concern, but the internal damage appears to be far more serious.
Trident Estates plc, which owns the Burger King outlet, said it has already propped the building and is in discussions with the other property owners to find a long-term solution. CEO Charles Xuereb told MaltaToday that the company is taking the matter “very seriously” and is assessing the next steps to address the issue with “utmost diligence”.
Despite the visible structural issues, the Burger King outlet remains open and operational, with customers seen inside the premises. However, the architect concluded that carrying out all necessary repairs may no longer be financially viable. Instead, they recommended that efforts should be made to reach a consensus with the owners of the overlying apartments to demolish the building entirely and redevelop the site.
Meanwhile, the BCA said it is closely monitoring the situation. The authority confirmed that the owners have engaged a private architect and implemented immediate safety measures. A government-appointed architect working with the police is also preparing a separate report.
A meeting is expected to take place between the BCA, the police-appointed expert, the building’s owners and other relevant parties to determine the appropriate way forward.
The BCA also clarified that this case is entirely unrelated to the recent collapse of a nearby building at the former Avenue site, which remains under investigation.
Featured image: Txllxt TxllxT