The extensive damage caused to a Sliema woman’s yard was inevitable, according to the Building Regulations Office head, despite every effort by the developer to keep it to a minimum.

On Monday, this newspaper reported the shock of a 58-year-old woman living in a three-storey townhouse adjacent to Sliema’s old naval clinic, where development works are in progress, when a bulldozer smashed into her backyard.

While the woman said she was aware her yard's outer wall would be destroyed, its demolition came as a complete surprise.

Before she could do anything to stop the workers, the bulldozer rammed into her yard, leaving her with just a few worn-out tiles.

Yet BRO head Michael Ferry said that while it was understandable that the woman was shocked, the development’s architect had indeed followed all necessary procedures, confirming that all was in order.

“We have been in continuous contact with architect Martin Xuereb, who submitted all the necessary documents in advance and made sure everything was in order,” Mr Ferry told this newspaper yesterday.

The whole yard had to be demolished – and not just the outer wall as previously agreed with the resident – after it was established that the yard was dangerous, due to the building being quite old, Mr Ferry said.

“It was definitely not a case of negligence. We have our own inspectors there regularly to make sure that all is in order.

“I can assure you everything is in place and there is no cause for alarm,” he added.

The Office is responsible for making sure that construction works are in line with regulations outlined in the Avoidance of Damage to Third Party Property Regulations legal notice issued in 2013.

The project was approved by what was then Mepa in 2014 and will include an eight-storey complex containing offices, retail outlets, apartments and underlying garages.

It has for a number of years sparked controversy. Residents and heritage groups have often raised concerns that the development could damage the underlying air-raid shelter and an extensive and fragile cave system, including the iconic Għar il-Lembi and Għar id-Dud caves.

There were also objections to the decision to have the development protrude from behind the facade of the old naval clinic. Developer Mark Gasan said he expected the works on the yard to be completed by this week, yet the woman insisted that only a temporary wall had been erected. She said she was told that the yard would not be rebuilt for some time.

She said, however, that as long as her yard was rebuilt to its original state, she would not seek any compensation.

claire.caruana@timesofmalta.com