Town council of Carboneras endorses revisions to the PGOU, designating the terrain of the hotel 'El Algarrobico' as 'non-developable'
In the picturesque town of Carboneras on the Andalusian coast, the El Algarrobico hotel, a recognizable example of modern architecture, continues to stir controversy. The latest development in the long-standing saga involves the town council's approval of a partial amendment to the General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU).
Socialist councillor Francisco Capel has denounced what he calls a "fraudulent maneuver," accusing the mayor of not complying with judicial resolutions and hiding key documents from the full council. Capel has also read extracts from the municipal secretary's report, which warns of administrative anomalies, lack of essential documentation, and a context of "absolute defenselessness."
The mayor, however, has defended the legality of the procedure and reiterated his proposal to seek a definitive solution through the expropriation of the hotel and its demolition, with the participation of the Andalusian Junta and the central government. This proposal was passed with the favorable votes of the mayor, the Popular Party councillors, and councillor Andrés Belmonte.
The El Algarrobico site, where the Azata del Sol hotel is located, has been ordered to be classified as non-urbanizable land of special protection by the Andalusian High Court of Justice (TSJA). This order came after the hotel's construction without the appropriate permits and its location in a protected area of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park led to legal and environmental controversies.
The judicial ruling was confirmed by the Supreme Court in April 2018, which required the Carboneras Town Hall to formally cancel the urbanistic classification that allowed the construction of the hotel. In response, the council approved the partial modification of the PGOU to comply with the TSJA's ruling.
Capel has called on environmental groups to challenge the plenary agreement, while Popular Party councillor Felipe Cayuela abstained, and three other socialist councillors did not express their vote. The new regulations will be registered in the urbanistic registers and published in the Official Bulletin of the Province (BOP) and on the municipal website before being formally sent to the TSJA and the Andalusian Government.
The mayor has accused the PSOE of not having attended the previous full council meeting where this issue was addressed. The municipal secretary read the text of the proposal, which records the technical adaptation of the planning to the judicial ruling through the graphic correction of sectors ST-1 and ST-2.
This hotel has generated an important debate about urbanism and sustainability in Spain. It serves as a reminder of the risks of tourist expansion without adequate planning, especially in protected natural spaces. The saga of the El Algarrobico hotel continues, with the town council's latest move being a significant step towards resolving the long-standing controversy.
