The Building and Construction Agency (BCA) will have its enforcement beefed up as the number of inspectors are expected to double by the end of the year, together with a new pool of experts who will be conducting checks on construction method statements.
This was announced by Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning Aaron Farrugia and Parliamentary Secretary for Construction Chris Agius, during a visit to a construction site with the aim of giving rise to a series of necessary reforms.
The Parliamentary Secretary explained that in August 2019 there was the setting up of the Building and Construction Agency which until now served as a vehicle until the formation of the new Building and Construction Authority.
In that time the Authority opened a Gozo branch and during the past year, the BCA has carried out 437 inspections in Gozo, Parliamentary Secretary Agius said.
Minister Farrugia explained that the government is continuing to work towards a sustainable construction industry in the Maltese islands. With a focus on improving compliance and enforcement, the number of inspectors is expected to double by the end of this year.
These inspectors are tasked with regularly monitoring any development projects as deemed necessary to ensure that they are in-line with administrative procedures, as well as current laws and regulations.
He explained that they investigate all reports of alleged irregularities and ensure that enforcement notices are always followed. This is done by regularly visiting sites and recommending appropriate action, maintaining all case files and keeping the enforcement information system up-to-date.
He said that a new freephone number (80049000) has been set up for the public to report any irregularities during construction site works, in order to address the concerns of the public and ensure that everyone feels safe in their home.
The BCA also intends to receive expressions of interest for the provision of professional services of periti to assess construction method statements covering demolition, excavation and construction works submitted by architects responsible for the projects, he said.
“The government will be announcing further reforms, schemes and measures hand-in-hand with all stakeholders in order to achieve the results we are after. This reform will modernise, safeguard and strengthen the industry while improving quality of life and providing peace of mind to all families in Malta and Gozo,” the Minister said.
The Parliamentary Secretary explained that “during these months, the Agency worked to introduce new administrative systems, including a system for licensing for builders, worked on amendments to laws, nd strengthened its presence in all localities and although our policy is to educate the sector, the action still needed to be taken by the enforcement unit.”
“During the past year, BCA in Malta and Gozo issued 38 fines, sealed four construction sites, opened three complaints with the Police, and issued 48 enforcement notices,” he said.
“4077 inspections were performed in Malta, and the BCA has processed 2,595 complaints for Malta and Gozo,” Parliamentary Secretary Agius said.