The National Court has rejected an appeal seeking to halt the construction of a five-star hotel at La Tejita beach in the south of Tenerife, declaring the land as suitable for development and outside the limits of public coastal lands. This decision solidifies earlier rulings that the land is “urbanizable” under long-standing plans, sparking concerns from environmentalists and local advocacy groups.
The Tenerife Association of Friends of Nature (ATAN) had challenged the validity of the land's classification, arguing that the protected strip of coastal land should be 100 metres wide instead of the current 20 metres.
ATAN contended that the original urban plans approved in 1971 failed to meet urbanization deadlines and did not align with modern Coastal Law protections. However, the court upheld the current boundary, stating it was established in line with laws predating the Coastal Law's enactment in 1988.
A Legacy of Controversial Urbanization
The contested land, located along the last virgin beach in southern Tenerife, has been designated as an urban reserve since the 1960s. Although the Costabella-El Médano Partial Plan envisioned development by 1981, construction had not commenced by that deadline.
In 2018, Granadilla City Council authorized the hotel project, prompting a review of the coastal boundary. Initially, this review proposed extending the protected zone to 100 metres, which would have rendered the project unviable. However, authorities ultimately reaffirmed the 20-metre protection zone, allowing the development to proceed.
Government Policy Reversal
Efforts to halt the project gained traction during the previous Canary Islands Government, which negotiated with the Galician developer, Grupo Viqueria, to purchase the land and preserve the beach's natural state. The agreement was never finalised, as the current coalition government of the Canary Coalition (CC) and the People's Party (PP) refused to endorse the land acquisition.
This reversal has reignited public criticism, with opponents accusing the government of prioritising economic interests over environmental protection.
Legal and Financial Implications
The State Attorney highlighted that cancelling the hotel project at this stage would expose the government to significant compensation claims from the developer. The court emphasized that the land's designation as developable since the 1960s and partial urbanization since then support the project's legality.
Additionally, the ruling noted that 90% of the surrounding area has already been urbanized, further diminishing the argument for extending coastal protections.
A Divisive Landmark Decision
The La Tejita case has become emblematic of broader tensions between economic development and environmental preservation in the Canary Islands. Advocates for the project argue it adheres to existing regulations and offers economic benefits, while environmentalists see it as a missed opportunity to safeguard one of Tenerife's last untouched beaches.
The ruling sets a precedent for how historic urban planning decisions intersect with modern environmental legislation, leaving a lasting impact on the region's coastline and its communities.
