Marbella - Council Ignores Junta

Marbella Council appears to be ignoring the fact that responsibility for its town planning has been withdrawn by the Junta de Andalucía, and has asked the expert who has been drawing up the new Urban Plan to go ahead as originally scheduled and deliver the Plan for preliminary approval within three months. According to the Town Hall, the Junta cannot remove the Council's right to handle its own town planning because the new law which came into force on the 12th December cannot be applied retrospectively.

The local authority also claims that the present Council cannot be penalised for the 'sins' of past administrations, and it says the document from the regional government does not specify what supposed infractions have been carried out by Marbella since the 12th December, as it should. The Mayor, Marisol Yagüe, has therefore decided to continue with the new Urban Plan as if nothing had happened, and as if nothing will happen to stop it in the future.

Manilva – Inspection

Officials from the provincial delegation of public works of the regional government will be visiting Manilva this week to examine the town planning approvals issued by the local town hall. The new mayor, Salvador Zotano, said this was a routine inspection but the regional government has requested the suspension of the licence for a development at Llanos del Tabano that was passed by the former mayor, Pedro Tirado, who is presently held in jail.

Rincon de la Victoria – Surcharges

Rincon de la Victoria is to impose a ten per cent surcharge on its Impuesto sobre Bienes Inmuebles (IBI tax, formerly the urban tax) on property owners who are not registered at the Town Hall. According to the councillor for taxes, Eva Carnero, while around 10,000 owners paying IBI are registered, as many as 15,000 more are not, and with the official population of 32,000 thought to be a true population of around 50,000, the Town Hall is missing out on funds from central government based on population numbers. The move is to be accompanied by a campaign to persuade residents to register with the municipality.

Dehesa de Cartama – Fighting Back

More than 200 residents of Dehesa de Cartama have formed an association to fight to save their homes, which have been threatened with destruction due to their illegality. The owners acknowledge that they built without permits, but did so with the understanding that they would later be able to pay a fine and legalise their homes. When the new Land Law took effect, that possibility withered. They now face the destruction of their homes, in some cases after already having paid fines. The owners say officials unfairly apply different criteria in different cases, with some people facing fines, demolition and even prison sentences while others get off scot-free.

Los Merinos Norte in Ronda demonstration

The battle continues to halt the construction at Los Merinos Norte in Ronda of two 18-hole golf courses, around 750 dwellings and three five-star hotels. Various ecologist groups say they will not stop their fight until the regional government agrees to paralyse the projects.

The development is being referred by the Green Party (Los Verdes) to the anti-corruption prosecutor as it is alleged that exists sufficient cause for concern that “irregularities” have been committed. It is also claimed that the construction of the project will see the destruction of more than eight million square metres of evergreen oak groves.

Various groups protesting against the golf projects including ecologists, farmers, local residents’ groups and those affected by property speculation have held a demonstration outside the ministry of public works. They called for the regional government to intervene but added if it failed to do so they would take their case to the anti-corruption prosecutor.

The golf course projects have provoked demonstrations by local people who fear the developments will have an adverse affect on the aquifers that supply water to four municipalities and on which 10,000 residents of the zone depend.

Malaga – POT Plan

The Junta de Andalucía has finalised its draft version of the new regional development plan (POT) for the Málaga metropolitan area, which includes the city, Rincón de la Victoria, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Alhaurín de la Torre, Alhaurín el Grande, Cártama, Almogia, Casabermeja and Totalán.

The plan envisions a 10-year population growth in the metropolitan area to somewhere in the range of 830,000 to 890,000 people. It sets development restrictions for coastal and inland areas, allowing 15 per cent of available land in the coastal region to be classified as developable and 20 per cent in the inland zone. Twenty-five per cent of available land will be dedicated to general services, such as cultural facilities, schools, health centres, communications infrastructure and industrial parks.

The plan also designates protected land, with two examples, Malaga’s Arraijanal zone and Campamento Benítez, being probably the most controversial. In Arraijanal, where Málaga Town Hall wants to build a marina complex with 1,500 homes, the plan calls for a large green space. At Campamento Benítez, the old military base near the Plaza Mayor shopping centre, the POT supports the Development Ministry’s proposal for a park and national transport museum, an idea that Málaga Town Hall has repeatedly spoken out against.

Valle del Sol – New Promotion in Almeria

Valle del Sol new development is located nearby Vicar – Almeria, a quiet and pleasant location and consists of 122 luxury one bedroom apartments, with the highest quality standards, located within La Envia Golf Course, beside the five stars Hotel Senator La Envia. On an exclusive golf front line spot, these apartments offer excellent sea, golf and mountains views.

At La Envia, where our resort is located, you will enjoy a wide choice of health and beauty services, which will offer you the latest technologies for hydrotherapy, gym, heated pool, saunas and hairdressers, all of them located, besides the development, within the five stars hotel and a Spa centre.

Within the top quality five stars hotel, beside the development, you will find all the leisure and entertainment you may require; restaurant a-la-carte, snack bar with open air terrace, coffee bar, piano salon and a mini golf. And, apart from its complete tourist offer, just a 15 minutes drive, you will reach Almería city centre and, within a few minutes, the quiet beaches of Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar.

The apartments are surrounded by gardened promenades and artificial rivers, which lead to the sports are, where you will find a sports centre, tennis and paddle courts, swimming pool and a footing walk.

Prices start from €100,404.

Payment Terms are: 3.000€ Deposit, 30% PPC, and 70% on Completion.
View more info on Valle Del Sol Almeria

Las Villas de Casablanca – New Development

Las Villas de Casablanca new development is located in Benalmadena, and consists of 70 semi-detached luxurious villas which include 3 bedrooms, large terraces, Domotic security system, private garden, chimneys, fully fitted kitchen, paddle court, and Social Club.

Constructed with the highest standards of quality, all the properties have sunny terraces, with marvellous open views. A place created to be adapted to a way of life, projected with a perfect balance between comfort, exclusiveness, refinement, technical innovation and a total respect for ecological and environmental values.

Prices start from €615,000.

Payment Terms are: 6.000€ Deposit, 20% PPC, 10% During Construction, and 70% on Completion.
For more information on Las Villas de Casablanca

Golden Hills – New Development

Golden Hills is a magnificent complex of 34 two-bedroom apartments and penthouses with large terraces facing South and West in a secure area, with magnificent swimming pools in the centre of subtropical paths and gardens.

The penthouses and apartments in this complex are created in order that you fully enjoy your home in every sense of the world. The apartments include parabolic aerial, garage, storeroom, intrusion control via chip-electronic (apartment access alarm), sensors and alarm control technique (water, fire, smoke), intelligent control systems, a high standard fully equipped kitchen, security door, pre-installed satellite TV, and fully installed air conditioning system.
For more information on Golden Hills