Andalucia building laws: Construction licence revoked for Spain's first seven-star hotel

Add to My Stories Share Spain's first seven-star hotel, set to be built on the Andalucian coast, has had its building licence revoked after the local government claimed it was awarded without the proper authorisation.The Andalucian government has contacted the local town hall in Almucar, on the Costa Tropical, to rescind a licence issued by the former local council for the planned Baha Fenicia Hotel.The hotel reportedly received a building licence just four days before local elections and two days before a negative report on the project was submitted to the town hall.

Stopped: The Banyan Tree hotel group must reapply for a licence for their planned property on the Costa TropicalThe Andalucian government also claims the project should have been approved by its own tourism department before the licence was awarded.The argument over the legality of the hotel will be a familiar story for many expats living in southern Spain, who themselves have fallen victim to lax construction laws.Thousand of Britons who bought properties on the Iberian Peninsula have found themselves in danger of being evicted after their homes were declared illegal.Many were built on land that is officially 'rural', but expats were led to believe they were allowed to construct properties by builders, local lawyers and town halls.

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The seven-star hotel and spa, planned by well-known luxury brand Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, was due to open the first phase of the project in 2013.More than 50 residential villas were also due to be built on the site, about an hour east of Malaga.

Illegal: The Algarrobico hotel is still an eyesore in Almeria's National ParkMara Jos Snchez, a delegate in the Andalusian government, said the authorities will not stand in the way of the project but insisted that all the relevant paperwork is legally approved before it is allowed to proceed.

It is hoped the 230m investment by Banyan Tree will catapult southern Spain into the same league as other popular tourist destinations which offer seven-star luxury, such as Dubai and the Caribbean.The debate over the construction licence for the hotel is not the first to have raged in Andalucia.
In Almeria, in Spain's south-east corner, the Algarrobico hotel stands empty on the
beach of the protected Cabo de Gata-Njar Natural Park.
The construction was declared illegal after it was built because it is within 100 metres of the beach. But it is yet to be demolished.