Why is Marbella’s General Plan still not approved? ‘Greater Marbella’

The country’s top planning Court did not approve small sections of the PGOU (General Urban Ordinance Plan) Marbella submitted, and so the whole plan was thrown out. There wasn’t the alternative of sending it back to have amendments made. No, the whole plan was refused. Marbella is not alone is having no updated PGOU as many municipalities are in a similar predicament. It means that getting permissions for development and improvement takes a very long time or they must work to the 1986 plan, and the city was very different 38 years ago.

It’s been to the benefit of the neighbouring municipalities of Estepona, Benahavís and Mijas, which have more up-to-date plans and have seen developments sprouting all over the place. Effectively, we now have a ‘Greater Marbella’, as their marketing inevitably focuses on the closeness to Marbella’s centre.

The national Government is aware of the problem and in their new Land Law there are proposals to make part amendments and corrections possible. However, last week, politicians from all sides focussed on their party politics and not assisting the country, so that the approval of the Law had to be withdrawn at the last moment.

The Widespread Impact of Property Scarcity in Marbella and Beyond

It affects everyone. Buyers seeking property find scarcity leading to rapidly rising prices. Workers are priced out of purchase and rental due to property scarcity and now have jobs but nowhere to sleep. Valuers/appraisers see prices rising throughout ‘Greater Marbella’ even in less attractive locations. They wonder what will happen when Marbella becomes fully open for business again and interest shifts away from secondary or tertiary locations.

Come on politicians, lift your noses from the trough and act in the interests of the country as a whole and not just the Party, “right or wrong”.