Arroyo de la Miel - Street Improvements

Improvements are to be carried out to more streets in the centre of Arroyo de la Miel, as part of the scheme to convert the area into an 'Open Shopping Centre'. This week work will begin on the second phase of the project, and will affect Calle Sol, Calle Nueva and Calle Luna, all of which have already been pedestrianised but which will benefit from new paving and street lighting. The works will take about three months to complete, and afterwards the area around Plaza de España will be improved, as part of the third phase of the scheme.

Estepona – Urban Plan Illegal?

Left wing coalition IU (Izquierda Unida) in Estepona town hall, have said that they consider the advance copy of the new PGOU urban plan for the town to be illegal, because of the lack of public debate on the matter. They say the plan for widespread expansion goes against the wishes of most of the residents of the town. The left wingers want more consultation with resident groups and others before the first stages to approve the new PGOU.

Alhaurin de la Torre - Road Closures

The Junta de Andalucia has advised that intermittent closures have begun on the MA-9002 between Churriana, Alhaurín de la Torre and Cártama due to work being carried out to clear weeds and bushes from the shoulder of the road. The closures began last week and will continue for about a month, between the hours of 9.00 and 18.00. During closures, detour signs will redirect traffic via the A-7 and the A-357, say officials.

Spain - Small Increase in House Prices

The price of new housing in Spain rose by an average of 12.8% last year, the smallest increase since 2001. The Director General of Architecture and Housing Policy, Rafael Pacheco, welcomed the drop because everyone wants what he called "more reasonable" increases. Both the Bank of Spain and the EU have warned that the high demand for housing, which has been raising prices alarmingly, cannot last for ever.

San Pedro - New Pedestrian Promenade

San Pedro Alcántara residents will have a new reason for enjoying the sea air in a few months’ time. The appearance of Lindavista beach will change radically with the construction of a pedestrian seafront promenade measuring 400 metres in length, a new attraction to join the town’s main promenade.

The Andalusian-Mediterranean Coasts Department, which comes under the Ministry of the Environment, is finalising negotiations with the owners of several villas in the area in order to be able to create this walkway. The reason for this is that parts of the gardens belonging to these houses cover the land to be used to create the path. An agreement still has to be reached with at least one of the owners, said sources at the Coasts Department.

The department estimates that before the end of this month the plans could well receive the go-ahead from the Ministry, a preliminary step before the work is put out to tender. The budget has already been decided on. The central Government plans to invest 444,000 euros in this promenade beside Lindavista beach. Over 300,000 euros has already been assigned in this year’s State Budget and the rest will be forthcoming at a later date.

Spain - Tax Discrimination

The European Commission has filed a case with the European Court of Justice accusing Spain of financially discriminating against non-resident EU citizens by taxing them at different rates than residents on both income and real estate capital gains.

Income taxes for non-residents are taxed at a flat 25 per cent, while residents pay on a progressive scale from 15 per cent to 45 per cent, depending on income level. "The different treatment is especially significant in the case of taxpayers with relatively low incomes," says the EC.

Capital gains on real-estate sales are taxed at a flat 35 per cent for non-residents, while for residents they are taxed on a progressive scale if the property was held for less than a year and at a flat rate of 15 per cent if the time of ownership was greater than a year.

The EC says the Court of Justice has clearly established that offering different financial treatment to resident and non-resident EU citizens is "incompatible" with the European Treaty. The EC's move to report the case to the Court of Justice comes after Spain failed to alter its tax structure after an official request by the EC in July 2005.

Costa del Sol - Construction Back on Track

The Costa del Sol construction industry is gradually returning to normal now that the quarries at Alhaurín de la Torre have resumed operating. 90% of construction ground to a halt recently when the quarries were threatened with closure and quarry workers went on strike, causing a lack of building materials, and the workers were supported by colleagues in the construction sector.

In Fuengirola, twenty projects had to be temporarily suspended and the mayor, Esperanza Oña, calculates that their completion has been delayed by about a month and a half. Among them were construction of the new Town Hall, the market and Town Hall branch in Los Boliches, the park opposite the Elola sports stadium, the third phase of works in Avenida Ramón y Cajal, the Plaza Anabel Conde and the footbridge over the Arroyo Pajares.

In Alhaurín de la Torre, the municipality in which the quarries are located, work on major projects such as the indoor swimming pool and the new social services centre resumed last week, and road resurfacing is due to begin again in the immediate future.

Fuengirola - Demolition of Apartments

One of the oldest court cases involving property in Fuengirola was finally concluded this week when a block of 13 flats was demolished after repeated protests at its illegality by the owners of the property next door. Halfway through Monday morning heavy machinery started to dismantle the building - a job which was expected to last “at least two more days”, said the demolition workers.

The dispute started when Fuengirola Town Hall issued planning permission to the building firm Arenal 2000 in December 1997 for the construction of a block with 13 flats at number 91 on the seafront promenade at Los Boliches. It was to be put up on a plot of land that had previously been occupied by La Olla Restaurant. The inhabitants of the buildings Ronda 1 and Ronda 2 immediately took legal action because the new building invaded their land by 110.70 metres, affecting their community gardens. At the same time, during an inspection by the Planning Department of the Andalusian Government, it was noticed that the plot was smaller than the minimum surface area allowed under the 1982 master town plan and, moreover, it was closer to the Real stream than the minimum distance stipulated by law.

El Penoncillo – New Development

El Penoncillo new development is situated in Manilva close to all amenities. There are 15 townhouses in the development with communal pool, garage and private gardens. The houses have wonderful mountain and sea views.

The dwellings have pre-installed hot and cold air-conditioning, fitted kitchen, and storage rooms.

Prices start from €284,702.

Urbanizacion Santa Ana – New Development

Urbanizacion Santa Ana new residential development has to offer you the best atmospheric conditions on the Costa del Sol. It has the best location anyone can ask for. The complex is situated in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. There is more than 160 km of coastline and an average of 300 days of sunshine per year and the highest concentration of golf courses in Europe and the Costa del Sol.

This complex is located in Manilva and consists of 32 lovely townhouses with 3 bedrooms, communal pool, ample garden, and garage. This development has stunning sea and mountain views, and it is close to all amenities.

Prices start from €283,000.

Anoreta Golf – New Development

Anoreta Golf is a golf course development located in Rincón de la Victoria and consists of 20 luxurious semi-detached villas which include private garden, private garage and stunning golf and sea views.

Prices start from €357,105.