More than 3,800 heritage buildings in George Town to undergo inspections
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More than 3,800 heritage buildings in George Town are set to undergo visual inspections as part of heightened efforts to monitor structural safety within the Unesco World Heritage Site, according to the New Straits Times. The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has engaged a pest control firm to conduct termite inspections at all 3,853 heritage properties, including 82 Category I and 3,771 Category II buildings, starting this month.
Additionally, MBPP is working to appoint a qualified engineering consultancy firm to assess Category II buildings for potential damage, structural decay, and safety risks. Property owners, including Chinese clan associations and NGOs, are required to hire registered professional engineers to evaluate the structural soundness of their properties, with verified reports to be submitted.
The MBPP has also simplified procedures to encourage heritage conservation, including removing a specific planning requirement and streamlining processes for converting residential properties to commercial use.
Brief written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
