Elche orders the “imminent” demolition of the former Banca Peral due to risk of collapse

Elche City Council has ordered the demolition of the former Banca Peral, a listed structure, citing its “imminent threat of collapse.” The owner, Quiles Vaquer SL, has less than 24 hours from notification to commence the work, which must be finished within a month.

In addition to demolition, the council has ordered that the next apartment block be evacuated within one day. Residents will not be permitted to return until a technician certifies structural stability and the absence of hazards within a seven-day window.

The municipal resolution also calls for other urgent measures to be carried out within 24 hours including:

• Turning off and disconnect all utilities in the building to prevent electrical dangers caused by leaks and water accumulation.

• Existing façade barriers should be maintained to prevent collapse into public highways.

• Maintenance of the fence and closure of the tunnel that runs along the building’s full front.

• Access to the former Banca Peral’s interior and roof is banned.

Once the repair is done, the property owner must produce a technical certificate stating that the measures were correctly implemented and that there is no imminent risk.

The City Council has warned Quiles Vaquer SL that any unjustified failure to comply with these orders by the deadline will result in compulsory enforcement measures such as subsidiary execution at the company’s expense or the imposition of coercive fines of up to one-tenth of the estimated cost of the works.

The decision will be sent to the interested parties, the Territorial Cultural Service, and the Palmeral Board of Trustees, along with information on relevant legal remedies.