November 22, 2005
Crime, Corruption and Scandal
Ben Johnson / Bright
The Costa del Sol has a tarnished reputation in the worlds media and tabloids today. Much of the planning irregularities and money laundering scandals are at the forefront of most of the press we encounter about the area. However, its an important point to note that the very reason why so many planning irregularities and fraudulent buisness practices are coming into the media spotlight at the moment is that regional and national authorities are finally getting around to tackling the problems with corruption and organised crime.
The Costa del Sol is smartening up its act finally, and what we have seen over the last year is the result of many carefully planned and orchestrated goverment and police operations that have been implemented to tackle the coasts corruption problems.
On Wednesdy the Junta de Andalucia (the governing body for all local govenment and planning in Andaluica) passed its new law. It now has increased its regulatory status and has the power to take planning decisions away from townhalls, in the case of serious irregularities, for a maximum term of five years. The new law obliges local authorities to reserve 30% of land designated for residential use for subsidised housing and allows them to order the demolition of illegal buildings within a month.
This is good news for the building sector as there is now an official watch dog that is reputedly incorruptible monitoring the actions of local townhalls. Town halls and the individuals that work within the system have always been susseptible to bribery in return for planning permission. The out dated Town and Local Planning Plans that were last revised in 1985 are seriously out of date with the development requirements of today.
Illegal development happens at all scales from people illegally renovating property to developers building grand schemes without the proper paper work inplace. During Jesus Gil's (former Mayor of Marbella and owner of Real Madrid) time as mayor of Marbella these violations were particullrly prolific. In fact Gil was persued to his death bed for his part in the corruption of the local planning and townhall approval system.
There have been numerous planning law violations over the past ten years, many occuring in the popular resorts. For the majority of developments built illegaly over the last 10 years, the new crack down will not concern the residents who bought. Recently completed developments on protected land particualrly within the immmediate coastal zone are under serious scrutiny and may be torn down....
The pendulum is finally swinging back and authorities have pulled licences on approximately 40 projects on the coast this year alone. With more licence confiscation pending developers are finally being forced to build within the remit of the licence or either facing long waiting time for their first occupation licence or worse still having their planning permission revoked. The new laws will finally put real teeth into the regulatory framework and allow illegal developments on protected land to be pulled down and the rubble removed.
Corruption and bribery is being stamped down on hard and those involved face prison terms and serious fines. Marbella's previous mayor is facing a stiff prison sentence for his part in the granting of permission for the illegal Banana Beach development in Marbella.
Category: The Costa del Sol Property Market.