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Date Published: 30/03/2023

ARCHIVED - New developments still under construction in La Manga despite ban by eco law

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

Blocks of flats, villas and other building work is underway in La Manga, Cartagena and San Javier, all of which are unaffected by the urban planning moratorium

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - New developments still under construction in La Manga despite ban by eco law

The construction of new residential projects in La Manga del Mar Menor is continuing apace, despite intense public disapproval and a moratorium on building there under the Law for the Recovery and Protection of the Mar Menor of 2020.

There is very limited space left on the coveted strip of land of La Manga, and developers are falling over themselves to grab a piece of the pie. The real estate developments under construction have building licences dating back to before the moratorium was passed.

In Cartagena, the case of the construction of a villa in Cala del Pino, where the Council was recently awarded a certificate for tourist excellence, has already led to protests and attempts to stop the works this Wednesday, on the grounds that such development is spoiling the delicate environmental balance in the area.

Locals have been in dispute with the City Council of Cartagena and the Ministry for Ecological Transition over the new villa, and tried to physically stop a digger from doing any work there to prepare the ground.

Eventually, the Guardia Civil turned up, the protestors were moved on and the backhoe was able to continue with its work.

The councils of Cartagena and San Javier have stated claim that the moratorium on building around the protected Mar Menor lagoon only blocks projects that were not approved before the law came into force, as well as those that are planned on unconsolidated urban land.

Thus, the construction of more than 500 homes between the two municipalities is still pending, according to data provided by both councils, with licences being granted for several blocks of tourist flats in the San Javier section.

The councils argue that they cannot oppose urban developments if the promoters’ papers are in order, as is the case in Cala del Pino, one of the few natural spaces left unbuilt and unspoilt in La Manga.

#SOSMarMenor #CaladelPino #LaManga #Cartagena #España pic.twitter.com/JWgLO8njsQ
— Alianza Mar Menor ➡️ AMARME (@AlianzaMarmenor) March 29, 2023

What new buildings are under construction around the Mar Menor?

In San Javier, several new developments are in the pipeline in front of the Playa del Pudrimel at kilometre 16, where 88 properties for tourist use are to be built on consolidated urban land and where work has already begun.

To the north of El Estacio, 116 tourist flats are also planned, while to the south of Puerto de Tomás Maestre, near the sports pavilion, a further 300 homes are planned.

The property developer Blue Diamond Resorts, which is building the controversial flats in Cala Flores (Cabo de Palos), is also building a block of 44 homes in the Miradores del Puerto area, just past the Estacio canal, a project which is nearing completion and which will require a plot of land to be ceded to San Javier Town Hall to build a multi-purpose building.

Further north, in Veneziola, Blue Diamond Resorts has plans for a new two-building resort whose licence has been applied for but the moratorium will force it to be put on hold until the Land Management Plan for the Mar Menor watershed is resolved.

Neighbourhood associations and environmental groups continue to battle against these developments. They have called for a protest on Sunday April 2, at 12 noon, in Cala del Pino and Playa del Turco.

Image 1: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena

Image 2: Pacto Por el Mar Menor

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