Junta lifts restrictions on construction in Marbella old town

From the SUR in English

The measure brings an end to a 20 year ban and should revive the area

Some 85 buildings are to be protected

Marbella’s Urban Planning office has approved a modification to the 1986 PGOU (town development plan) which lifts the restrictions on construction in the old part of the town. The measure, due to be published in the official provincial bulletin next week, will allow the Town Hall caretaking committee to award planning permission to around a hundred local residents, and comes in answer to a request from the Association of Traders and Professionals in the old town centre.

The office, set up by the Junta de Andalucía for the drawing up of the new PGOU after the power over planning was taken from the Town Hall, has decided to modify an article in the current plan, which established that until a “special plan” had been drawn up for the old part of the town, no construction would be allowed except for work to preserve existing buildings or the demolition of declared ruins.

This ruling was passed 20 years ago, however the “special plan” it refers to was not commissioned until 2004 when Marisol Yagüe was Mayor. Nevertheless the architects abandoned the job when the Town Hall failed to pay them for their work.

Poor condition

Both local traders and the Cilniana association for the defence of local heritage had criticised,on a number of occasions, the fragile condition of the old part of the town and the need to intervene to preserve its life and to turn it back into a social centre.

The absence of new building work in two decades had caused the severe deterioration of a number of the buildings and the consequent reduction in habitability.Now the Town Hall caretaking committee will be able to grant planning permission for building work affecting a hundred houses or business premises.

The Urban Planning Office, managed by José María Ruiz Povedano, has justified the measure by saying that “it will help to solve the problem of buildings being in a bad state of repair and the consequent loss of habitability, resulting in an improvement in the quality of life of the local residents”.

Nevertheless the Junta has laid down strict conditions governing new building projects undertaken in the old part of the town. Licences will only be granted to projects which comply with the 1986 PGOU as far as the type and height of the construction are concerned. Furthermore the pattern of land division must not be altered.

Protected buildings

The ruling establishes preventative measures to protect some of the buildings: 13 have been listed as being subjected to “singular protection” which gives them a similar status to that of buildings classed by the Junta de Andalucía as an asset of cultural interest (Bien de Interés Cultural). A further 72 buildings have been listed in the “general protection” category.

Restrictions have also been established governing the use of business premises in the area. Within the walled zone premises cannot be used for recreational purposes although a commercial and hotel and catering use is permitted and the occupation of pavements is limited.

Strict measures have also been introduced to protect any archaeological heritage and a survey must be carried out before any construction work takes place. Special protection

Buildings listed in the resolution approved by the Urban Planning Office.

Castle: Declared as a monument.

Hospital Bazán: Declared as a monument. C/ Hospital Bazán, 5.

Encarnación church: Plaza de la Caridad, 1.

Santo Cristo church: Plaza Santo Cristo, 80.

Capilla de la Caridad: Chapel. Calle Caridad, 7.

Town Hall: Plaza de los Naranjos, 1.

Ermita de Santiago: Shrine. Plaza de los Naranjos, 8.

Trinidad Convent: Calle Viento, 1.

Antigua Casa del Regidor Cosme Fernández Altamirano: Calle Altamirano, 1.

Antigua Casa del Corregidor: Plaza de los Naranjos, 6.

Casa Correa: Calle Ancha, 18.

Antigua Fonda: Old tavern. Calle Santo Cristo, 8 & 10.

Fountain: Plaza de los Naranjos.