All new construction banned on popular day-trip island near Costa Blanca

The smallest island in Spain will ban all new construction.

Tabarca Island is located off the Costa Blanca, close to Alicante and Santa Pola. It has about 70 permanent residents.

Alicante City Council, which administers the island, published on Monday their proposals for a Tabarca protection plan.

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Plan will prohibit new buildings and ban the heightening of existing structures, as well as protecting the historic facades.

Only recently built homes can be renovated, and only under strict conditions.

Nothing can be undertaken in around 100 properties that come under ‘total protection’.

Rocio Gonzalez, Alicante’s Urban Planning Councillor said: “It’s a plan which respects the island’s culture heritage.”

The councillor continued, “It consolidates the intention of Tabarca being non-developable and does not anticipate any urban growth.”

The island is the only one in Valencia Community that has been inhabited. It measures 1.8kms in length, and reaches a maximum of 400m in width.

In the past, it was a refuge for pirates. Today, around 300,000 people land there each year, plus those bringing in supplies.