Fort Benghajsa handed over to Heritage Malta for restoration and public access<\/p>\n
Fort Benghajsa, the last Victorian-era fortification built in the Maltese Islands, has been formally entrusted to Heritage Malta, marking a significant step towards its restoration and eventual reopening to the public, a government statement said Friday.<\/p>\n
The transfer of the site, located in Birżebbuġa, was completed by the Lands Authority during an official ceremony attended by Culture, Lands and Local Government Minister Owen Bonnici. With the title now in its hands, Heritage Malta is set to begin a detailed assessment of the fort’s structural condition, with the aim of restoring it and making it accessible in a sustainable manner.<\/p>\n
The agency is also expected to collaborate with the Birżebbuġa Local Council, national organisations such as the Scout Association, and other voluntary groups in the area to assist in the management and upkeep of the historic site.<\/p>\n
Minister Bonnici described the transfer as a milestone that will return the fort to the public after many years during which access was restricted. He emphasised the site’s historical and cultural value, noting that it is essential to preserve and protect it properly. He added that the project forms part of a broader vision to safeguard national heritage while creating spaces that can be enjoyed by families.<\/p>\n
Heritage Malta chief executive Noel Zammit welcomed the move, saying it reflects continued confidence in the agency’s ability to care for Malta’s cultural assets. He said the initiative will help restore dignity to a site that had long been inaccessible to the public.<\/p>\n
Robert Vella, chief executive of the Lands Authority, said the transfer represents an important step in ensuring that a public property of historical and cultural significance is put to appropriate use for the benefit of the community. He noted that the authority had taken decisive action to regularise the site, including enforcement measures against illegal occupation, although some court proceedings linked to eviction orders are still ongoing.<\/p>\n
Birżebbuġa mayor Scott Camilleri described the development as a historic moment for the locality, highlighting the fort’s importance not only to the town but to Malta as a whole. He said the council looks forward to seeing the site regenerated and enjoyed by the public.<\/p>\n
In recent months, the Lands Authority carried out coordinated enforcement action with law enforcement agencies to evict illegal occupants and remove a number of unauthorised structures built over time, the statement said. However, a small, distinct part of the fort remains subject to ongoing court proceedings related to eviction orders initiated by some of the former occupants.<\/p>\n