James Bryce
A MASSIVE golf macroproject could be built on protected rustic land previously owned by former Libyan dictator Colonel Gaddafi.
The controversial project – put on hold after the Spanish Government froze Libyan assets last year – includes 2,000 homes, a golf course and congress hall.
The development would take up a large chunk of the 6,900 hectare La Resinera estate which sits between Benahavis, Estepona and Ronda’s Genal Valley.
It is currently owned by the Libyan Arab Foreign Bank, and includes part of the Sierra de las Nieves biosphere reserve.
The time has come for all new developments to have to prove that there is a social and economic need for them to be built. Monte Mayor golf course beside the site to be developed has been closed and many others are struggling. There are many hotels closed over the winter and now remaining closed, with the 5* Las Dunas near the development being one of them. Marbella is developing a new conference centre which will satisfy much of that market. Keep developments within the existing urban areas and leave the wild areas as they are. Without those the remaining natural charm of the area will be lost in the same way that views of undeveloped beaches have gone.
I suspect this is really just a `soundbite` thrown out to be a positive and will certainly never happen in the next umpteen years.
Repossession of Libyan assets, Construction & Development boost are both forward thinking uplifting tales, but neither very imminent to make a diference to the economy
It’s got a biosphere! That is the green light of development in Spain. lol.
Two things are economically true: 1) Town Halls and the Junta are desperate for income & employment “possibilities” so sometimes bend the rules, and 2) EXISTING golf courses, hotels and new urbanizations are going broke. All of this while the economies of tourists’ countries are in the toilet, with the EU in denial of the facts.
ANYONE or Bank or Investment firm who puts money into this
type scheme must: a) Have head examined and b) request Bailout since it WILL be needed. Tie this project up in Court against PERSONAL Town Hall & Junta Officials who vote in violation of the “Biosphere” designation. Maybe, forever!
Benahavis is one of the handful of Ayuntamientos that’s not in debt. Believed to be in credit to about 30M€. However, Estepona, in which most of the property lies, is deeply in trouble and has been unable to pay workers in the past.
It’s just not needed and a waste of natural and financial resources, including the costs of public infrastructure.
Benahavis is an expat haven, which would explain its good financial position. People there are very entrepreneurial; it is not typical Spain.