Málaga – New Motorway for 2009

The new Las Pedrizas motorway in Málaga is to be built by the Sacyr-Vallehermoso group, and it should be open by the end of 2009. Construction of the 25 kilometre stretch of dual carriageway will cost about 322 million euros, and it is expected to bring an end to the notorious traffic jams to the north of the provincial capital. The toll charge for using the motorway will probably be fixed at 1.50 euros, and the concessionary company will not be given the right to increase it.

Manilva – Investigation into Aldea Hills

Manilva council is to carry out an investigation into three licences granted by in 2001 for the construction of 256 properties in the Aldea Hills area. There are suspicions that there may have been irregularities in the sale of the land by former mayor Emilio López Berenguer, and that the site was not zoned for construction of private housing although council housing could be built there. The anti-corruption authorities have requested information about the projects from the council, following an official complaint by the PSOE political party. The 20,000 square metres of land were sold for 1.2 million euros, and it is claimed that the plots were subsequently sold on for 18 million euros.

Estepona – Unregistered Properties to Be Taxed

Owners of properties tucked away in the Estepona countryside are to start paying the IBI tax. The council is drawing up a list of houses; many of them built illegally, in rural areas and is to send the owners tax demands. So far, the local authority has identified 485 properties, of which only 87 are registered for IBI, and has inspected the area between the Camino de Cuesta de Ronda and Camino de las Carmelitas, from the cemetery westwards, and from the eastern side of the industrial estate to the Guadalobón. The inspections of rural areas will continue throughout this year, and the council expects to raise at least 700,000 euros a year from people who were previously not meeting their IBI tax obligations.

Costa Cálida – Polaris World Given Go-Ahead

The Polaris World construction company has finally been given permission to start construction of its luxury residential complex in Alhama, following final agreement between the PP and the PSOE.

The delays on the building have lasted for some 9 months but now appear to be over with permission granted for the first 2,500 homes to be constructed.

The second phase of a further 10,000 homes will be granted permission once the developer presents a new infrastructure plan for the complex.

Mijas – Illegal Construction Crackdown

Officials in Mijas have shut down two illegal home-construction projects in a five-day period. The first was a 200-square-metre home in La Alquería and the other a 70-square-metre home in El Hornillo. In both cases work was observed to be still underway following a previous halt-work order. “Based on a recent municipal law, illegal construction works can be shut down without previous warning,” said the Town Hall in a statement.

El Puerto de Santa María – New Urban Plan

El Puerto's Town Planning councillor, Juan Carlos Rodríguez, says that the new Urban Plan will be presented to the council for approval at the end of next month or in early September. The draft project is currently on public display at the offices of the Apemsa water company, and will remain there until the 5th of August. Once any suggested changes have been considered and the Plan has been approved by the council, the next step will be to send it on to the Junta de Andalucía.

El Puerto's Urban Plan includes 25,528 new homes, the legalisation of more than 4,000 properties, 20 million square metres of land for development, and four million square metres of protected land. At the moment there are 46,000 homes in the town, and the present population is 83,605. The number of inhabitants is expected to rise to 100,880 by the year 2018.

Gibraltar – Development Angers Ecologists

The Government of Gibraltar signed in January of last year an agreement to develop a commercial zone on its eastern beach. The project is valued at more than a billion pounds sterling and includes the construction of 2,200 apartments, underground parking, a sports port with 300 moorings, a four star hotel with 300 rooms plus commercial and businesses premises. In addition there is to be a new electricity generating station, pumping station and water distribution network.

Whilst this spells good news for Gibraltar it has provoked much concern amongst the ecologist group Verdemar. It is unhappy about the continuing process of the filling in of the eastern zone of the Rock to create the platform on which the tourism development will be built. Verdemar spokesperson, Antonio Muñoz, has pointed out that the work is advancing at a fast pace and once completed its effects will be irreversible. He believes the development will damage La Línea's Levante beach and is angry that the Spanish government is acting in a "passive" manner towards the scheme.

Cádiz – Property Prices Soaring

The price of property in Cádiz city went up by 60.7% between 2003 and 2005, according to figures just published by the government, and this makes Cádiz the provincial capital with the third highest increase in property prices in the country. The average rise, nationwide, was 48.5% during the same period, with an average annual increase of 16.2%.

The statistics also show that the most expensive areas for buying property in Spain are not Madrid and Cataluña, as many people would expect, but are now Murcia, Andalucía and Castilla-La Mancha.

Costa del Sol – Best Year For Tourism

This is the best year for tourism on the Costa del Sol in the past decade, according to statistics just issued for the first six months of the year. Hotel occupancy has been up by 3% compared with 2005, and is expected to reach 85% in August even though there are 3,000 extra hotel beds available in Málaga province this year as new establishments have opened and others have been enlarged.

Fuengirola – Officially A Tourist Resort

Fuengirola has become the fifth town in the province of Málaga to be officially recognized as a ‘Tourist Resort’ - a description which brings with it certain advantages and privileges. The announcement was made this week, when Chipiona in the province of Cádiz also attained the status, bringing the Andalusian total to 13. The other eleven are Roquetas de Mar (Almería), Conil de la Frontera, Chiclana de la Frontera and Tarifa (Cádiz), Aracena (Huelva), Cazorla (Jaén), Santiponce (Seville), and Benalmádena, Nerja, Ronda and Torremolinos, all in the province of Málaga.

In order to attain this coveted status, which brings funding for services and other means of making the town more competitive and attractive to holidaymakers, resorts have to prove to the regional government, the Junta de Andalucía, that they meet certain conditions regarding number of inhabitants and overnight stays by visitors.

Among Fuengirola’s attractions are the Sohail castle and the Roman remains of the “Finca del Secretario”.

Málaga – Proposed Amendments to Urban Plan

The Green Party in Málaga have announced that they plan to present City Hall with proposed amendments to the new PGOU Urban Plan for the city, which will include installing solar panels in new homes. The party’s spokesman, Ángel Rodríguez, has said that ‘Málaga city does not comply with any of the Kyoto Protocol stipulations, despite agreements by City Hall to increase use of renewal able energy and reduce electricity consumption. The term ’renewable energy’ is not even mentioned once in the PGOU,’ he said. The city’s new Urban Plan was approved by City Hall’s Partido Popular majority last week. All the other parties voted against it.

Marbella – Business Centre for Foreigners

The fact that so many foreigners want to set up their own business in Marbella has led to the creation of a new Advice and Development Centre for entrepreneurs that is unique in Andalucía. In addition to acting as consultants and providing information about training, accommodation and financing to Spanish businesses the centre is also to concentrate on encouraging foreign entrepreneurs all over Andalucía. This will include those who do not live in the province of Málaga but have business interests in Andalucía.

The idea is to make it easier for businessmen and women from all over Europe to set up their own concern in Marbella or to invest in a scheme set up by young people, whether Spanish or foreign, in the area. This means that one of the functions of the new centre will be to look for foreign investors and persuade them that the Costa del Sol is a good area for business.

As the Málaga provincial head of Innovation. María Gámez, said: “It is especially aimed at British and German investors. Previously they had nowhere where they could receive specialised advice in their own language.” The staff working at the centre will have a bilingual cultural training to aid British and German investors.

The centre, to be based in the Avenida Ricardo Soriano, will also provide free accommodation for entrepreneurs with original ideas for a type of business which does exist in the town at the moment. Meetings between Spanish and foreign investors will be arranged and study days on alternative energy, biotechnology etc. will be organised. Covering 370 square metres, the centre will include private offices and function rooms. It is expected to be up and running after the summer.

Edificio Luada

Edificio Luada development consists of 18 apartments with air conditioning, fitted kitchen, video porter and alarm and is located in the centre of Malaga, the capital city of the province and located in the heart of the Costa del Sol; ideal for discovering Granada, Motril, Nerja and the Eastern Costa del Sol or to the west Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Marbella along the N340 or toll road.

Prices start from €156,139.

La Zarza – New Development

La Zarza development is located in La Granja, Algeciras and consists of two bedroom terraced houses with parking place and private garden or patio.

The Costa del Sol has a unique micro climate that allows for all year round outdoor pursuits and activities making it the nº1 choice for most Europeans. It is known for its beautiful surroundings, the variety and diversity of the landscapes, mountains and hills, rivers and water springs. It offers fantastic beaches and many leisure facilities, restaurants, cafes, entertainment venues and much more.

Prices for Townhouses: €195,500.

. Vélez Málaga – Sponsor a Baby Donkey

Los Verdes-Andalucía - the Green Party-Andalucía - have put 5,000 raffle tickets on sale in Vélez Málaga, with first prize going to the person whose ticket bears the same number as the ONCE lottery draw on 27th April 2007.

It is part of their campaign to make the public more aware of the need to care for their environment, and to protect donkeys as a species in danger of extinction.

The first prize is ownership, or sponsorship, of Juan, a six month old baby donkey.

The Greens say Juan ‘is environmentally educated, he is sustainable, does not contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer, he meets the Kyoto protocol, and he doesn’t need any connections to get a decent job.’

La Línea – More Tourists

La Línea's tourist office has dealt with 18,389 people in the first six months of this year compared with 12,748 last year. It has reported that occupancy levels have reached 74 per cent, up from 70 per cent for the same period last year, whilst there are now 225 more hotel bedrooms than in 2005.

Puerto Real (Cádiz) – New Bypass Open

It is now possible to travel the 57 kilometres between Jerez and Conil in just half an hour, thanks to the opening of the last part of the Puerto Real bypass earlier this week. This new stretch of highway also links with the A-381 Jerez-Los Barrios via the A-5105 El Pedroso road, which will be used by traffic heading to Algeciras and will reduce congestion in the Bay of Cádiz.

Ronda – Internet Expansion

Residents in Ronda and various other countryside towns will soon be able to carry out their transactions via the internet.

The announcement is part of a regional government plan to streamline the operation of councils in the interior of Andalucía, and will mean that electronic signatures will soon be accepted to pay for council services.

This development could signal the end of long, time-consuming queues at stuffy council offices for residents and expats alike.

Of course, this will depend largely on ability to use the internet and having a credit or debit card, but with their use becoming much more widespread, it means you could do all your council business at the touch of a button from the comfort of your home or office.

Apart from Ronda, the other councils taking in the development include Alozaina, Benaojan, Benarraba, Cartajima, Genalguacil, Paruta, Pujera, Serrato and Montecorto.

This means that residents from all these council areas will be able to change their medical details or pay their regional taxes at any time of the day or night.

Almuñécar –Building Licence Suspended

The Andalucian Supreme Court has suspended the building licence issued by the Almuñecar town hall for the construction of the Medina Cantalobos urbanization in April 2003.

The sentence this supports the arguments of the regional government and orders construction to stop because the project is not on build-able land.

22 detached homes are affected in the Pago de Cantalobo area of Almuñécar by the ruling.

Benalmádena – IBI Tax Reduction

Benalmádena Town Hall has announced plans for an across-the-board 10 per cent reduction in its IBI real estate tax rate next year.

When added to other discounts already available to ‘exemplary citizens’ of the town, the rate cut will mean potential IBI tax reductions of up to 38 per cent.
The 10 per cent reduction, which will apply to all residents, whether registered (‘empadronado’) or not, comes as a measure to counteract the major IBI increase experienced in the town due to a revision of the official cadastral values of homes, explained Town Hall officials. The revised assessments were performed in 2005 for the first time in 16 years and the huge jump in assessed values meant a steep IBI hike for homeowners throughout the town.

The 10 per cent IBI cut still has to be formally approved in the Town Council, which officials say will occur either later this month or in September. For the remaining 28 per cent available discount, residents have to meet certain conditions. People considered by the Town Hall to be ‘exemplary citizens’ – those who are ‘empadronado’ and have no outstanding municipal debts – get a 23 per cent discount on their IBI bill. This good-Samaritan benefit has been available for some time; it used to be set at 16 per cent but late last year the Town Hall increased it to 23 per cent.

The final five per cent IBI discount goes to all homeowners who pay the tax via a direct-payment system from their bank.

Motril – Massive Tourism Complex Planned

A group of 20 construction companies have joined forces on a project in Motril which will be the largest tourism complex on the Costa Tropical, and create more than 1,500 direct jobs.

Christened ‘Playa Granada Golf Resort,’ it includes a golf course, luxury hotels, and 2,500 new homes, all surrounded by green areas and commercial centres: two million square metres in total and a massive investment verging on one billion euros.

The constructors have been working on the project with Motril Town Hall for a year and a half, and have planned five different areas: a 3 to 4,000 square metre park; the golf course, with its own luxury hotel and individual houses; a commercial area between Playa Granada and Salobreña, where the shops will be surrounded by fountains and rest areas: tourist apartments; and another hotel area. There will also be 5,400 car parking spaces throughout the complex.

The project is already included in Motril’s Town Planning Plan, approved in 2004. Its promoters hope that, all being well, work can start at the end of the year, with completion of the first phase in 2009.

Andalucía – Cash Boost For Countryside

Local councils across the interior of Andalucía will receive a 175 million euro cash injection from a rural development fund. The money to be distributed this year will be used to improve infrastructure in countryside towns and has been raised by the central, regional and provincial governments.

Various projects are on the cards already with the construction of parks and gardens, the modernisation of irrigation systems and the repair of streets being just some of them. Most of the cash will go towards those towns that have more of a rural population and those which have a less developed economy and the state employment service will take care of putting together the workforce.

Formerly called the PER, the rural development fund employs local people to carry out infrastructural work, and since 1986 when it was first introduced, it has invested 2,850 million euros in rural areas.

Thus the province of Malaga will receive 5.8 million euros and that of Seville, 10.9 million euros.

Murcia – 7.5 Billion€ Investment

Murcia’s government has announced regional investment of more 7.5 billion € in a Strategic Plan which they say will take the Region to a future of progress, development and improved social welfare.

The Plan signed by the regional executive, businesses and unions on Monday has taken 500 people more than a year to draw up. It covers the period from 2007 to 2010, and has five main areas of objectives:

Economically - to achieve 90% European convergences on average income by 2013, create new jobs, and reduce the number of temporary contracts; secondly - improvements to regional productivity and technological investigation; and thirdly - environmental and territorial sustainability. That refers to measures to meet the terms of the Kyoto protocol, creating an eco-park in every town, and a balanced distribution of population across the Region.

The fourth aim of the Plan, social welfare, is to reduce poverty, and introduce improvements to the health services available to the public. One of the aims on that is that surgical waiting lists should be no longer than 40 days.

The fifth and final objective is improving the Region’s image, both within Spain and abroad.

Antequera – Massive Growth Expected

Some 18,000 homes could be built in eight years in the Antequera area, after the new PGOU town plan was passed by the local council recently.

That number could rise to 38,000 over the next 25 years as the town prepares for the biggest growth spurt of its history. Antequera’s very fabric is set to change from a rural town to a bustling population centre over the next few years, with the construction of an airport, the AVE link with Madrid, Cordoba and Sevilla, and the new five million square metre container port. A large area has also been reserved for tourism accommodation with nearly 15,000 such homes projected over the next few years.

Edificio Plaza

Edificio Plaza consists of 18 apartments of 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms with parking space, storage room, air conditioning, alarm, and video entry.

This new development is located in the centre of Málaga city.

Prices start from €243,692.

Alamos – New Development

Alamos development is located in the centre of Málaga city and consists of 7 apartments with air conditioning, fitted kitchen, alarm, and video entry.

Málaga city is located 10 Km to the east of the airport. It is the capital city of the Costa del Sol and located in the heart of the coast; ideal for discovering Granada, Motril, Nerja and the eastern Costa del Sol or to the west Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Marbella, all along the N340 or the faster motorway toll road.

Prices start from €166,500.

Regidor Hills – New Development

Regidor Hills is located in Benahavis and consists of 41 lovely townhouses of 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with communal swimming pool, tropical gardens, fitted kitchen, pre-installation of air conditioning, and garage.

Prices start from €271,000.

Benalmádena – More Parking Spaces

Two new car parks are to be built in Benalmádena Pueblo, and another is planned in Arroyo de la Miel. Initial works have already begun on Las Moriscas underground car park in the village, which will have 150 spaces, and should begin soon on the other one, Los Nadales, where there will be 525 parking spaces. There are also ambitious plans to build an underground three or four storey car park at the sports centre in El Gamonal and if this project goes ahead it will create a further 700 parking places.

Costa – More Summer Buses

The Málaga Metropolitan Area Transport Consortium has launched extended summer-time bus services. Through to August 31, the Málaga-Benalmádena and Málaga-Rincón de la Victoria lines will run later, with the last buses leaving the capital at 03.10 weekdays and slightly later on weekends. A special 'beach bus' will take riders from Cártama and Alhaurín el Grande to the beach in Torremolinos, and a night-time line will run from Plaza Mayor to Alhaurín el Grande and Alhaurín de la Torre.

Mijas – New Building Laws

Mijas Town Hall has approved a measure reducing the density of construction in the municipality. The newly established limits – 18 homes per hectare in Las Lagunas and 15 per hectare in the rest of the urban area – mean an overall reduction of 12,400 homes on the 28 million square metres of currently available building land, according to officials. Where 67,500 homes would have been allowed under the previous regulations, 55,100 homes can be built under the new rule.

Alhaurín el Grande – New Urbanisation To Go Ahead

Alhaurín el Grande council has given the go-ahead for a new urbanisation of 24 properties and 100 parking spaces to be built on a 6,000 square metre site between Calle Convento, Huerta Mena and the cemetery. The car park will be accessible from three different points in Calle Convento: opposite Calle Trabuco, via Huerta Mena, or by a new road which will lead into the urbanisation.

Estepona Council – Approves Legal Action

The council meeting in Estepona this week approved starting legal action against the POT territorial plan for the town being imposed by the Junta de Andalucia, which will leave many homes in an illegal condition. A calendar of protest action was approved last night and the Mayor of Estepona, Antonio Barrientos, says that he will support those protests against the Junta which have been authorized, despite the fact that such action is not sanctioned by his Socialist party bosses in Málaga. After the meeting many local residents started a march along the Avenida Litoral.

Ronda – Green Light for 1,200 Homes

Ronda council has given the green light to the construction of more than 1,200 homes in one of the fastest growing residential areas in the town.

In the last few years the neighbourhoods of Cruz de San Jorge and Padre Jesus have seen more developments than ever before, making it the top area for expansion in the borough.

The main focus of the building has been around the former fairgrounds where 5,000 homes are amassed. Now the two companies of Rilke SL and Galia SA have received council approval for their own construction plans and it looks like the area's population is set to take another hike.

One of the urbanisations will cover an area of nearly 115,000 square metres, of which almost 6,500 square metres will be for schools, 3,228 square metres for sports facilities, 600 square metres for shops and 781 will be parking spaces.

The council is set to pocket over five million euros from taxes as a result of the two developments.

Costa del Sol – Carry On Building!

Whilst prices might be stuttering, there has been no decrease in construction except in inland Málaga. The western coast had a general increase of 15.5 per cent in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year. The eastern coast showed an increase of 23.3 per cent but inland areas showed a drop of 1.29 per cent.

Not surprisingly, with the town planning problems in Marbella, the municipality has shown a 22.4 per cent drop in construction compared to last year. However, neighbouring Estepona is a building boomtown with a 108.2 per cent rise, outperformed on the western coast only by Torremolinos, with a 141.6 per cent increase. Rincón de la Victoria on the eastern coast has seen a 34.2 per cent drop, and Torrox and Nerja have increased marginally but Vélez-Málaga keeps the flag flying with a 120.5 per cent leap. Inland Málaga is a mixed bag; overall, new construction has slowed, but in Pizarra, for example, it is up by 264 per cent.

Marbella - Hipercor Fined 14 Million Euros

The Marbella Management Committee has fined Hipercor 14 million€ for constructing an illegal 5,000 m2 extension to their commercial centre in Puerto Banús. News of the fine was given by the town planning member of the committee, Rafael Duarte, who said that the extension was carried out between 2004 and 2005, and that a previous order to stop construction was simply ignored. Hipercor were informed on June 8th and had 15 days to appeal, but did not do so. It has also been claimed that there is no opening licence for trading in the increased area, and the zone now faces a possible demolition. So far the Marbella management committee has issued 84 orders to halt building works since the first at the Hotel Senator on May 2. More than 700 sites have been inspected since the new committee took control.

Málaga – Fluctuating House Prices

According to recent statistics, the average price per square metre of constructed property has dropped by 1.7 per cent in three months. The average per-square-metre last month was 2,574 euros compared with 2,620 euros in March. Those prices include parking, storage and tax. This is the first time in recent years that property developers appear to have taken in to account a drop in demand by adjusting their prices downwards. Nobody is yet talking of a crisis but developers have had to lower prices to attract new buyers, according to industry watchers. The same survey showed an average 12-month rise in prices of 14 per cent, but the year-on-year increase is now expected to slow to 12 per cent. Indeed, many developers are now revising their prices from month to month and week to week.

On the western coast, Benalmádena, Mijas, Estepona and Manilva recorded an increase in prices of 9.5 per cent in the first three months of this year but since April have recorded a drop of 0.31 per cent. Marbella seems to be bucking the trend with prices rising 2.9 per cent. On the eastern coast, Vélez-Málaga has seen a growth of 3.9 per cent in the last three months. In inland Málaga there has been an annual increase of 20 per cent, much stronger figures than in coastal zones, with major growth recorded in Antequerra, Campillos, Pizarra, Coín and Cártama.

Marbella - 100 Million€ Credit From Junta

Paulino Plata has announced that the Junta de Andalucía will shortly approve an extraordinary credit of 100 million € for Marbella, to meet the town’s basic needs for the next year. The regional government’s councillor for tourism, commerce and sport could not give any indication of when the credit will be made available to the town’s Management Committee, as final approval must be given by the regional parliament. The Management Committee has now ratified the Partido Popular’s nomination to replace Luis Cepedano as spokesman for public works, who resigned from incompatibilities between his private work and his work on the Committee. His successor is Ramón García Marín, like his predecessor, a technical engineer. García has lamented the fact that lack of funds will make his task more difficult, although he did say he would try to get the work on Avenida Jacinto Benavente restarted, and begin the project to build protective railings on the paseo maritimo. The Socialist Party confirmed Paulino Plata as their candidate for the Mayor’s office in next year’s local elections last month.

Residencial Colmenarejo

Residencial Colmenarejo new promotion is located in Estepona, composed of townhouses and apartments boasting high quality design and construction materials and incorporating exceptional services in security and domotics.

Of the exceptional location it is worth mentioning not only its proximity to the beach and the numerous golf courses in the area, but also that is only a short distance away from Puerto Banus and town centres, with significant infrastructures and large shopping malls.

Terrazas de la Torre – New Development

Terrazas de la Torre development is located in Roldan, near to the city of Murcia, and consists of spacious frontline golf apartments and penthouses, with a choice of properties with 1, 2 and 3 bedrooms.

The complex features an 18 hole Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, and a large town centre overlooking a huge lake, with supermarkets, boutiques, newsagents, business units, florist, beauty salon, car rentals, travel agents, bank, sports shop, restaurants, bars, doctors surgery, chemists, laundry/dry cleaners, commercial and sports facilities.

A lake will be built in the centre of the resort, encompassed by a promenade. In the centre of the lake, a 3.5000 m2 island will house a restaurant, bars and apartments. The lake, with surface area of 37.700 m2, will filter and wind in and out of the golf course.

Throughout the resort there will be a large number of green areas, equipped for your convenience with seating and children’s play areas.

Manilva – Set Sail At Sabanillas

Manilva council is encouraging young people to learn to sail, and has set up a nautical centre with a practice area on Sabinillas beach. An area of about 100 square metres has been set aside for this purpose, and free tuition will be given to youngsters between the ages of 10 and 16 in July, August and September. The courses last for four weeks, and those who complete them will receive a diploma from the Andalucían Sailing Federation.

Málaga Airport – New Free Car Park

A new free car park is now open at Málaga Airport, with space for 1,200 vehicles. Known as P-4, it is on a 30,000 square metre site in the San Isidro district, beside the railway line, and drivers can reach it directly from the N-340 highway via the Carril de San Isidro. The extension works at the airport have restricted the number of parking spaces available, so the P-4 and P-3 car parks are being made available during the summer months to minimise inconvenience.

Torre del Mar – New Image

Avenida de Andalucía, the old N340 main road through Torre del Mar, has been partially reopened to traffic after extensive renovations. One lane has been opened between La Vega and Avenida Toré Toré relieving pressure on side roads which have been seriously congested by diverted traffic during the work. 90 per cent of the project is now reported to be complete and the 800,000 euro facelift is said to give a new image to Torre's town centre.

Chiclana – New Golf Course Inaugurated

Chiclana's fourth golf course, the Lomas de Sancti Petri, was inaugurated last week, and the president of the Andalucían Golf Federation, Ángel de la Riba, described it as "impressive". This golf course is situated beside the Tartessus commercial centre and it differs from most others because no hotels or residential properties are planned on the site; it was designed as a tourist attraction, and the mayor of Chiclana, José María Román, says the local authority is delighted with the project. Nine holes are open at the moment, and the remaining nine will be operative by the end of the year, together with the nine-hole practise course.

The construction group behind the 12 million euro golf course project is also planning to build a six million euro equestrian centre with a 45,000 m2 indoor pavilion, where riding classes and excursions will be available and exhibitions will be held. This will be on a site next to the golf course and was also due to be inaugurated this year, but a difference of opinion between the constructor and the council over conditions imposed by the local authority delayed the project.

Málaga – Miramar Building Conversion

Two tourism companies are planning to convert the Miramar building in Málaga, currently used for some of the city’s courts, into a new luxury hotel. Several local businessmen have already been in contact with the Junta de Andalucia to try and buy the building which will become free in 2007 when the courts are moved out to the newly constructed Justice and Administration City. The building is valued at more than ten million €.

Málaga – New Urban Plan to Be Passed

The new PGOU which will outline the future development of Málaga City will be passed by the local government in the Ayuntamiento this week ahead of a vote to ratify the proposals. For the first time the construction of tower blocks of more than 20 floors will be allowed in four areas of the city. Puerto de la Torre will see new housing overflowing from Campanillas, and there will be a new residential area to the north of the Málaga ring road.

Estepona – Extra Guardia Civil

Rumours that the number of Guardia Civil in Estepona were to be reduced has been proved wrong. The Councillor for Public Safety, José Ignacio Crespo, has received a letter from the director of the Guardia Civil saying more officers are to be allocated to the area where 61 are currently based. Sr. Crespo had written to the director after hearing that there was a possibility of a reduction in numbers and pointed out this was a backward step for public safety.

Cádiz – Property Prices Up by 7.3%

The price of new properties in Cádiz city has risen by 7.3 per cent since December, and now averages 2,139 euros per square metre. This means that Cádiz is the second most expensive provincial capital in Andalucía, as Sevilla tops the list with 2,298 euros per square metre. It is in Sevilla, as well, that the biggest price increase has occurred this year (8.5 per cent), followed by Granada (7.8 per cent) and Almería (7.4 per cent). In Cádiz, the rise was actually lower than in the first six months of 2005, when prices went up by 8.1 per cent.

Marbella – Tourist Season Looking Good

Whether because of, or despite, the reports of corruption and imprisonment, the fact is that tourism in Marbella is, once again, flourishing. Earlier holiday periods this year have been extremely encouraging. At Easter, just a few days after the police operation in which the ring leader and the two in charge on the town council were jailed, hotel occupancy rose to 86 per cent, said the Town Hall, 11 points higher than the same time last year. Over the May 1st bank holiday weekend the results were even better.

Five-star hotel managers are expecting a better season than last year, but without reaching the high levels of the days when King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and his entourage used to visit the town.

Perhaps because of the World Cup June was not especially good, but the situation was expected to change from last weekend onwards. Because of the town’s special characteristics, September, when the better-heeled prefer to take their holidays, is likely to be even better than July.

Murcia – Popular Destination For British

According to the Barclays-IESE Barometer, 65.7% of British people would choose Spain as their preferred destination to set up a second home. The report, which was presented earlier this week, reveals that there is already a "very consolidated" British colony in Spain, mainly in Alicante and Málaga although future growth seems most likely in Murcia and Almería.

At the start of this year, there were a total of 270,000 British people registered with their local Town Hall, an increase of 29% compared to the situation twelve months ago. There was a 46% rise in Murcia's British population last year, followed by Almería (+35%), and Madrid (+12%). At the start of 2006, Brits owned a total of 90,000 residencies in Spain, 30% up on the start of last year.

The report predicts the construction of 83,686 new homes in Murcia before the start of next year that will increase the population by between 200,000 - 250,000. Over the next decade, it is predicted that the region's population will grow by 35%.

The report points out that Murcia has become the most popular destination for the 70,000 British people each year who explore the possibility of acquiring a residence in Spain, mainly due to relatively low levels of urbanisation, the climate, good communications, and for being the golfing capital of Europe.

Edificio Esperanza

Edificio Esperanza be advised that there are only 3 units left on this development which consists of 7 apartments of 1 and 2 bedrooms with air conditioning, alarm, and video entry.

This new development is located in the centre of Malaga city and is located 6km to the east of the airport. The city is the capital of the province and is located in the heart of the Costa del Sol - ideal for discovering Granada, Motril, Nerja and the Eastern Costa del Sol or to the west Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Marbella along the N340 or toll road.

Prices start from €188,026.

Monte Selwo – New Development

Monte Selwo development placed in the New Golden Mile, with outstanding views to Selwo Park and the Mediterranean Sea.

Facing the Selwo Mountain and Las Cañas brook, the complex enjoys a natural environment where paths run along the native pines of La Costa del Sol.

The complex shares boundaries with the brand new La Resina golf course and it is very close to the well known Los Flamingos and el Paraiso golf courses. Moreover, 2 km away, you can still swim from virgin beaches.

The complex is close to all the new commercial areas, sport and health facilities projected for the New Golden Mile. Its exclusive location avoids traffic or road noises.

The apartments are all outward facing and terraces, bedrooms and living rooms are south west facing.

Along with community gardens, two swimming pools and large community areas, the owners will enjoy sports, cultural and leisure facilities.

Los Flamingos Golf – New Development

Los Flamingos Golf luxurious development is located in one of the most beautiful enclaves of Marbella also known as 'The New Golden Mile' and consists of 32 apartments and penthouses with 2 and 3 bedrooms, fully fitted kitchen, fully installed air conditioning, under floor heating In bathrooms, Jacuzzi in main bath, alarm and more.

Thanks to its unique, natural characteristics, this promotion is excellently situated and extends infinite opportunities to its residents. You can relax in the peaceful, natural surroundings of the immediate area with its soothing backdrop of mountains and hills. On the other hand, it is a short drive to the Old Town of Marbella and the Marina at Puerto Banús, where you can indulge in the wide choice of shops and restaurants.

Prices start from €335,500.

Payment Terms are: 6.000€ Deposit, 35% PPC and 65% on Completion.