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Date Published: 27/04/2023

ARCHIVED - Monstrous Ghost Hotel of Algarrobico is a step closer to being pulled down

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

The Almeria Azata del Sol hotel was built in breach of the Coastal Law

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Monstrous Ghost Hotel of Algarrobico is a step closer to being pulled down

Twenty years since construction work began on the ill-fated 'Ghost Hotel of Algarrobico' located just 50 metres from the Almeria shoreline in Carboneras, the land has finally been declared 'undevelopable'.

Following 15 years of pressure from activists calling for its demolition in light of the fact it was built in breach of the Coastal Law, Carboneras Council has approved modifications to the planning law which will mean the site will be reclassified as 'undevelopable' and may therefore be pulled down.

Although it was just a few months ago that the Supreme Court denied the demolition of the hotel, which was built in 2003 amidst a massive pushback because of its impact on the Cabo de Gata natural park – in which the beach is located – the disqualification of the land from further development could lead to the annulment of the hotel's construction licence and, therefore, finally make it possible to tear the eyesore down.

Likewise, this approval opens the door to compliance with the July 2021 ruling of the Supreme Court to review the licence for the hotel built by Azata del Sol, which could lead to its annulment, as the Supreme Court ruled last December that it is still "fully legal" due to the urban planning in force until now.

Also read: Andalucia warns of possible water restrictions in the coming months

The first bricks were laid back in 2003 and the plan was to construct 21 floors with 411 rooms.

However, the construction was halted in 2006 when environmental activists sued the developers, claiming the "illegal hotel" was being built on the protected land of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.

Seventeen years after the building work stopped, the ghost hotel is still standing on Algarrobico beach, despite the fact that the matter has been dragged through the courts on more than 20 separate occasions.

In 2011, the Superior Court of Justice of Andalusia (TSJA) urged the City Council of Carboneras to modify the construction licence granted for the hotel, since the existing municipal planning states that the land on which the Azata del Sol hotel stands is developable.

However, a 2018 court decision that ruled the opposite based on the fact that the site is nestled within the natural park.

Demolition now looks near certain after the plenary approved on Wednesday April 26 the elimination of the current urban classification in the ST-1 sector (El Algarrobico) and in the ST-2 sector (El Canillar).

El Algarrobico is now considered as non-developable land of special protection with protection grade C1 (natural areas of general interest) and El Canillar acquires protection grade B1 and B2 (natural areas of general interest and semi-natural areas with traditional uses). The local approval will now be forwarded to the TSJA and the Junta de Andalucía.

Other news: Almeria builds new scenic Cabo de Gata cycle path

Image: Archive

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