Something is about to change in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, one of the most touristic places on the island of Gran Canaria. The municipality wants to adjust the rules so that people can also live in places previously only for tourists. This includes Maspalomas and Playa del Inglés.
With this change to the General Plan for Urban Planning (PGOU), the city wants to enable mixed use on these lands. This measure is intended to put an end to the fine procedures that the Ministry of Tourism and Employment of the Canary Government opened against owners living on tourist land. This mainly concerns apartment complexes with many different owners.
Infringement of property rights
Owners or tenants were prohibited from establishing their permanent residence in touristic places. This was done on the basis of the 2013 Law on the Renewal and Modernisation of Tourism of the Canary Islands. There was a lot of protest against this from the Platform of Those Affected by the Tourism Law. It used the argument that this situation violates property rights and leaves thousands of owners defenseless.
Discussions for legislative change
To tackle the problems, the Councilor for Urban Planning and Housing of San Bartolomé entered into discussions with the Canary Islands parliament. Alejandro Marichal argued for the need for the regulatory change. According to Marichal, current legislation does not adequately meet the challenges the municipality faces. This includes the environmental, social and economic sustainability of tourism. Moreover, it also includes more controversial issues such as residential use on tourist land.
Suspension of autonomous sanctions
The Urban Planning Department of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has requested the ongoing sanction procedures in this regard be suspended. This must be done until the proposed amendment to the PGOU can be implemented.
Also read: ‘Shopping centres in Gran Canaria are an ode to neglect’
