Fuengirola – New Projects

The last council session of last year in Fuengirola approved projects with a budget of over four millions euros that includes remodelling of streets, the creation of two parks as well as a new market and town hall in Los Boliches. Some of the projects will be put out to tender whilst others will start in the very near future.

Torremolinos - Apply for Grants to Restore Buildings

The Torremolinos town council unanimously approved a motion at its plenary session last week to apply to the Junta de Andalucia for financial help to restore 30 buildings over the next two years. Similar petitions have been turned down in the past, Mayor Pedro Fernández Montes said, because the Junta de Andalucia was dragging its feet as regards granting Torremolinos the status of tourist municipality.

Sr Fernández Montes, who belongs to the opposition party Partido Popular, accused the Socialist-dominated Junta of discriminating against Torremolinos, even though all tourism-related figures indicated that the town was the driving force behind tourism on the Costa del Sol.

Nerja - Budget Plans

Nerja Town Council meets in extraordinary session this week to approve the Town Hall's budget for next year. The total spend is set at 31,007,981 euros, just over one per cent more than 2005. The biggest single budget item, taking 35.5 per cent of the total, is almost 12 million euros earmarked for investments in the town's infrastructure.

Costa del Sol - New Land Laws

The president of the Junta de Andalucia, Manuel Chaves, said during his traditional end-of-year TV interview said the new Ley del Suelo (Land Law) was not aimed at reducing local councils' autonomy, but at putting an end to uncontrolled construction activities. He said something had to be done about the serious town planning problems in some municipalities because the wealth derived from tourism is "one of our geese that lays golden eggs and we don't want to turn the Costa del Sol into an uninhabitable place without any quality of life."

Sr Chaves said he was in favour of controlled growth in the construction sector "but within a sustainable framework of collaboration between the local councils and the Junta". To illustrate his point, Sr Chaves said there were some towns with populations of 5,000 or so which were planning to increase the number of inhabitants five-fold. "That is unsustainable," he said.

Malaga Province - Bigger Budgets

The regional and provincial governments (Junta de Andalucía and Diputación de Málaga, respectively) last week approved their 2006 budgets. The Junta budget was set at 27.4 billion euros, a 12 per cent increase over the 2005 budget, while the Diputación de Málaga's 2006 budget is 257.8 million euros, up 7.12 per cent from 2005.

Costa del Sol – Quarry Dispute Delays Construction

New homes on the Costa del Sol are seeing completion dates delayed by a minimum of three months because of a shortage of materials as a result of the ongoing quarry dispute in Alhaurin. More dismissals from the construction industry are expected in the area after Three Kings' Day. Some 250,000 workers are affected and 25,000 new properties have seen construction halted. These statistics were released by ACP - the Málaga Association of Constructors and Promoters.

The Mayor of Alhaurin de la Torre, Joaquin Villanova, has insisted that he will not grant licences to re-open the four quarries closed at the centre of the dispute. The Alhaurin council refused to draw up a 'special plan' to reopen the quarries which were closed down by Andalucia's Supreme Court. Workers in other areas have downed tools in support, and it is suggested that this is leading to the current problems.

Spain - Holiday Home Spending Will Double

"Live In Spain" - an organisation backed by several leading Spanish developers - forecasts that spending on Spanish holiday homes will double from approximately 25 billion Euros in 2005 to 45 billion Euros by 2010. The number of holiday homes purchased is expected to rise from approximately 117,000 in 2005 to 150,000 in 2010. There are at present an estimated 3.7 million holiday homes in Spain, of which 1.7 million are believed to belong to foreigners, 70% of who are British and German.

Marbella - Drop in Town Hall Income

The decision by the regional government to take over town planning approvals in Marbella will have a major administrative impact on the municipality. The legal and administrative process is expected to be completed by next summer but already the town has seen a serious drop in its financial income.

It has emerged that this year the ICÍO tax on construction and related works has produced a decreased income of around 60 per cent compared with the amount generated in 2002. So far the town hall has received 7.1 million euros from issuing such licences compared with 17 million euros in 2002.

A continuing decline will present Marbella with serious problems because this specific tax has been one of its major sources of income. Juan Jiménez, the director of the provincial ICIO tax collection office has blamed the reduction on the town planning problems in a town that has no legal local development plan (PGOU) and where many licences and property developments have been embargoed by the courts.

The economic situation for Marbella could improve this year if the council finally approves a PGOU that meets the legal requirements of regional government. Another solution could be a revision of the land and property values that have not been altered for the past 15 years.

Jardines de Tolox – New Development

Jardines de Tolox is located in the Andalucian Village of Tolox and consists of 14 luxury semi-detached homes sharing views to the valley but enjoying their own swimming pools, own private garden and their own parking areas. Access is quite easy since all local amenities are within walking distance and the road access is of good quality.

The village of Tolox has 3.000 inhabitants and is situated in the centre of the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park below the Sierra Blanca and the Sierra Parda. Tolox is easily accessible from the coastal area with Marbella being only a 40 minute drive away. Malaga International Airport can be reached within 30 minutes.

Features include:

Hot water is produced and stored by a 100 litre electric heater.
Pre-installation for hot and cold air-conditioning.
Electricity, television and telephone points are provided by Niessen.
Telephone and television points are fitted in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms.
Interior television points are fitted in the kitchen, living room and bedrooms.
Telecommunications according to the plans comply with all legal specifications.
Chimney in the living room.
Fully fitted kitchen with washing machine, fridge, hob, oven and dishwasher.
Prices start from €252,000
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Molino de Alozaina – New Development

Molino de Alozaina is located in Alozaina and consists of 24 two and three bedroom apartments which are built and finished using top quality materials. The apartments overlook the fantastic landscape and countryside as well as the surrounding mountains. There is a communal swimming pool and each unit has an allocated parking space which is included in the price.

Every unit comes with a fully-fitted kitchen with white goods, built-in wardrobes, double-glazed windows, pre-installed air-conditioning and cream marble floor in living room, bedrooms and vestibules. Each of those 24 apartments will be finished to the highest standard using only top quality materials.

Prices start from €111,532
View more info on Molino De Alozaina