Los Genoveses beach in the Cabo de Gata nature reserve is often voted one of Spain’s best (Image: Getty)
Developers are planning to construct a close to an untouched beach in the stunning Cabo de Gata nature reserve in , Los Genoveses.
According to , it is one of the final few stretches of Spain’s coast that has not been built on.
The firm, Torres y Gonzalez Diaz, wants to turn the abandoned Las Chiqueras estate – formerly a pig farm – into a 30-room hotel with 70 parking spaces.
The exclusive retreat will also house multiple swimming pools and beautiful unspoilt views of the , one that has often been voted one of Spain’s finest.
The firm, which owns numerous hotels, has been engaged in a fight with to get its plans approved since 2016.
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A similar nearby project, the Algarrobico hotel, has been embroiled in 20 years of controversy. (Image: Getty)
The project is now one step closer to being approved thanks to a new right-wing coalition of Vox and the PP in the local town hall of Nijar, which administers the park. It comes after the mayor Jose Garrido announced in July that he will allow construction on the land.
He was backed by the PP-run Junta last year, which gave environmental authorisation for the project.
A similar nearby project, the Algarrobico hotel, also built on a previously untouched beach in Cabo de Gata, has been after it was ordered to be demolished for breaking several laws.
The latest decisions have sparked outrage among locals, who gathered in their hundreds at the weekend. The Genoveses Sin Hotel group organised a march on the Almeria seafront, with supporters waving banners and chanting slogans, and is already planning a fresh demonstration.
In an X post, formerly known as , the Genoveses Sin Hotel group wrote: “Many thanks to the hundreds of Almeria residents who have supported our demonstration against the hotel project in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
“Next appointment, in front of the Níjar City Council when the plenary session is called in which they intend to approve it. #GenovesesSinHotel”
Don’t miss… [REVEAL] [WARNING]
Muchas gracias a los centenares de almerienses que han apoyado nuestra manifestación contra el proyecto de hotel en el Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata.Próxima cita, frente al Ayuntamiento de Níjar cuando convoque el pleno en el que pretenden aprobarlo.
— Genoveses Sin Hotel (@GenovesesSinH)
Meanwhile, a total of 4,000 people have lodged official individual complaints with the town hall. 260,000 people have also signed an online petition demanding the project be stopped.
“It is still possible to stop it, but for that to happen we have to mobilise,” Celine Feutry, president of the platform, told .
“There is no social or economic benefit for the locals, the interest is merely private and for a company that already owns many other hotels in the area.”
However, Enrique Ruiz, from the Friends of Cabo de Gata-Nijar Park association, said the planned hotel was being declared “of economic and social interest” to get the green light.
“But they must also prove job creation, sustainability and other positive impacts on the environment and economy,” he explained.
Feutry warned the council that “we will go to court” if the project is approved. According to Feutry, the area of the proposed hotel is only allowed to be used for agriculture. She added: “If the council authorises it, a dangerous precedent will be created because it would give the owners of all the farms in the area the green light to build accommodation”.
Express.co.uk has approached the Torres y Gonzalez Diaz firm for comment.