The Spanish Constitutional Court has ruled in favour of the central government's decision to demolish the Oliva Beach Hotel, a longstanding fixture in the dunes of Corralejo in Fuerteventura. In a unanimous decision led by Judge César Tolosa, the court rejected the Canary Islands government's appeal against the Ministry for Ecological Transition’s refusal to renew the hotel's concession.
The hotel, operated by the Riu chain, was built more than 40 years ago on protected land, sparking decades of controversy.
The hotel and apartments were constructed in the mid-1970s, even before the Corralejo Dunes were declared a natural park in 1982. In 2003, the Spanish government under José María Aznar granted a concession to the Riu chain, authorising the hotel's continued presence on public land despite the area’s protected status. The concession, initially granted in 1992, allowed the hotel to operate for three decades, even though it was noted that the complex encroached on public domain.
Over time, the hotel expanded beyond its original scope, adding unauthorised elements such as roads, garden areas, water tanks, and a fence that restricted public access to the area. In February 2024, the Secretary of State for the Environment declared the concession expired and mandated the demolition of the hotel, citing breaches of coastal regulations.
The government of the Canary Islands challenged the decision by filing a case with the Constitutional Court. Their argument focused on jurisdictional authority, claiming that coastal management fell under the regional government’s competence, not the central government’s.
However, the court ruled that the issue of coastal concessions is indeed a national matter, affirming that the central executive has the right to oversee such decisions.
Although the court’s ruling clears the way for demolition, the process is far from immediate. There is a precedent for demolition orders to face lengthy delays due to ongoing legal challenges, as seen with other controversial projects.
Similar cases have been tied up in courts for years, and the demolition of Oliva Beach could follow the same path. As the case continues, legal wrangling may further postpone any action, complicating efforts to restore the natural landscape of the Corralejo Dunes.
