B’Kara Impending Collapse: No Excavation Works Permitted Until Fresh Geotechnical Report Is Concluded
No excavation works will be permitted on a controversial Birkirkara construction site until a fresh geotechnical survey has been carried out, the Building and Construction Agency has told Lovin Malta.
BCA was reacting to a story this morning about the Montebello family which has been warned their home is likely to collapse if works continue next door.
“This morning the architects of the developer and the family concerned met and agreed on a number of points. Excavations works will not be done until the site is cleared of rubble, the ground level is exposed and a geotechnical survey is conducted to ensure excavation can be permitted,” BCA CEO Karl Azzopardi told Lovin Malta.
The family has already paid for their own geotechnical survey which found that the building is at the highest risk of collapse (Georisk Level 1) and that excavation should be prohibited because it could result in “catastrophic damage”.
Two similar collapses occurred within a 2km radius of the Birkirkara site, including the collapse of Miriam Pace’s home which left her dead.
BCA told Lovin Malta described the family’s geotechnical report as “preliminary” and said that once the rubble on site is cleared, a fresh survey can be conducted.
“Since there are no more demolition works to conclude, there is no threat,” BCA said.
The BCA said the developer has been reasonable and has no problem offering the family a sum of money to find alternative accommodation.
Current legislation does not automatically require developers to find alternative accommodation for inconvenienced neighbours. However, there is a third-party compensation fund that can be used if necessary, the BCA said.
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