Else Beekman
The Guardia Civil in Málaga has investigated 60 individuals, including developers, builders, and technical directors, as part of Operation Murus. According to the Guardia Civil, this operation aims to combat urban planning violations and protect the environment and cultural heritage in rural areas across the province, as the institution stated in a press announcement.
During 2024, agents from the Nature Protection Service (Seprona) conducted 166 inspections throughout Málaga, uncovering 254 administrative violations. The majority of these infringements were due to the absence of urban planning permits, failure to comply with approved projects or licenses, and unauthorised land modifications.
Serious urban planning violations identified
The investigation revealed 58 alleged urban planning offences. As a result, officers have submitted legal proceedings to the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of Málaga. Notable violations included illegal single-family homes on rural land, some within protected areas, unauthorised prefabricated houses for residential use, and recreational constructions disguised as agricultural facilities. The officers inspected constructions in municipalities like Vélez-Málaga, Málaga town, Antequera, Torrox, Rincón de la Victoria, Coín, Cortes de la Frontera, Estepona, Marbella, Ronda and Nerja.
Collaboration with local authorities
The operation involved cooperation between the Inspection Services of the Junta de Andalucía’s Department of Development and Territorial Planning and the Environmental Prosecutor’s Office of Málaga, as well as technical teams from affected municipalities. These entities confirmed the illegal status of the constructions, reinforcing the crackdown’s legal basis. The Guardia Civil officers have forwarded the reported violations to the relevant municipalities, which are responsible for urban planning and enforcement of sanctions.
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