Illegal housing project halted as Spain’s ‘surfer paradise’ coast battles wave of luxury developments – CSN News

The junta has stopped an illegal urbanisation in Barbate’s Ribera de la Oliva area, by suspending the use of 53 plots. 

With the assistance of the Guardia Civil and Policia Local, the Inspection Service of the Ministry of Development carried out this inspection.

The urban plots have been laid out in a protected area, close to the sea and within the Easement Zone for the Protection of the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain, as the site borders the La Breña and Marismas de Barbate Natural Park.

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Since the last inspections carried out in July 2024, 53 new illegal plots have been detected, where owners were fencing off land and constructing homes – most of them prefabricated.

This was all done without a permit or any other authorisation and in full knowledge of its illegality.

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This action by the Ministry of Development prevents environmental damage from the uncontrolled disposal of human waste in illegally constructed structures.

It also reduces the risk for homeowners in the area around the Barbate Marshes, which is at high-risk of flooding.