"This week Greenpeace Spain released an exhaustive report, which identified 291 coastal "black spots". Each "black spot" highlights a specific problem such as urbanization, overdevelopment and wastewater dumping."
From El País: ‘Greenpeace attacks apathy in face of coast’s destruction: organization highlights approval of 1.5 million new homes’ | “Spain’s once pristine beaches are now smothered in villas, hotels and golf courses looking out onto a sea of raw sewage and industrial runoff. That is the grim picture painted by Greenpeace in its latest report on the state of Spain’s coastline, which the environmental organization claims has continued to deteriorate over the past year.
The report, based on a study of Spain’s 8,000 kilometers of shoreline, is the latest in a string of warnings by environmentalists and researchers over the damage being done to coastal areas by unbridled development to make way for holiday homes and lax enforcement of environmental protection laws in many regions.
“The Spanish coastline is defenseless,” María José Caballero, a Greenpeace representative, argued during the report’s presentation Tuesday. “Although citizens are increasingly aware of the degradation it is facing, no administration is taking the challenge seriously.””
“Valencia, Andalusia and Galicia stand out as the regions where the coastline is under the greatest threat, with the environmental group having identified what it calls 286 black spots along the coast, which in “90 percent of cases” are linked to urban development.
The report also cites 102 cases of official corruption in coastal areas, most of which Greenpeace notes, are closely connected to the real estate and construction sectors and often involve the lax interpretation and enforcement of environmental and urban planning laws.”
Sources: http://www.barcelonareporter.com/
Golf course proliferation
The quantity of newly planned golf courses is simply shocking. The Andalusia community alone will have 210 golf courses if current plans are implemented. On an average, a golf course’s annual water consumption of 700,000 cubic metres is equivalent to the water consumption of 15,000 people.
In theory, these golf courses must be irrigated with treated wastewater - to save fresh water supplies for agriculture and human consumption. However, due to a lack of water treatment plants, most golf courses in Spain irrigate with fresh water. Meanwhile, Spain suffers through its worst drought in fifty years."
source: http://oceans.greenpeace.org/en/the-expedition/news/concrete-stranglehold
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Sunday, July 16, 2006
Black spot in Spain Coast
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Treasure of the Sierra Nevada
Cheaper than the Alpine resorts and much more fun in summer, Spain’s ski spots are starting to attract British buyers, reports Helena Frith Powell of The Sunday Times.Think of property in Spain, and most people imagine a sun-soaked seaside villa with a glimmering blue pool.
But as the beachside builds up and cheap flights branch out from the Costa del Sol, British buyers are heading inland — and not just in search of sun.
Spain may not be as famous for its snow as France or Switzerland, but its skiing properties offers year-round use. Buy a place in Andalusia’s Sierra Nevada for skiing, and chances are you will use it in summer, too, as a mountain base a short drive from Granada and two hours from the coast. More information
Official Turistic Information about Sierra Nevada
www.andalucia.org
Britons lead rush for a place in the sun
"Of those with homes in spain, 65 percent said they were attracted by the climate, 45 per cent wanted to spend more time outdoors and 40 percent were lured by the cheaper cost of living"
from Expatica.com, read more Home - contact - epropertydirectory
Home - contact - epropertydirectory
To some, Spain is a version of Blackpool - chips and cheap beer heaven, with sun to boot.
To others, it is the height of sophistication, with its fine Riojas and wonderful food. But to those who buy property in Spain, the country is just one big investment. And what an investment it has been, with research from Mintel showing that Spanish property is doing exceptionally well, abetted by the strength of the euro.
The increased availability of cheap, regular flights to dozens of venues in Spain has also had a markedly positive impact on property prices, according to Parador Properties, which covers "the whole length of the Spanish coastline", according to director Jack Hamilton. According to Parador, prices are moving ahead rapidly in the area served by Murcia airport.
"Properties near Alicante have done very well, and we've seen strong growth in the Costa Calida, near the Costa Blanca. That's a direct result of air travel bringing easier access," says a Parador spokesman.
The British are buying into Spain in ever greater numbers. Many see their investment as an alternative pension plan, as the high charges, stealthy tax increases and general complexity of "normal" pensions can be off-putting. Others point to a unique benefit of committing capital to a house or flat: it's just about the only investment you can live in.
Marry those two lines of analysis together and you end up with a boom market in buying property in locations all along the Spanish coastline. Industry estimates put the number of homes owned by British citizens at 750,000 in spain, compared to 500,000 in France, the second most popular country for investors.
Demand has long been high in the Costa del Sol, according to Angelique Todesco, a director of the Majestic property company: "Marbella is 12 per cent-owned by foreigners, mainly British investors," says Ms Todesco. Majestic develops and sells properties to a mainly British client base, and numbers television celebrity Simon Cowell among its clients. t.
Moving to Spain and Surviving
Spain is one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations; furthermore the attraction of Spain's climate, culture, beauty, cost and standard of living attracts record numbers of expatriates to relocate to its shores every year and the country already has an estimated 1.5 million foreign residents in situ. read more
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Seek advice when buying a property in Spain
Anyone thinking of buying a second home in Spain should beware of ancient tax loopholes which could have a serious impact on their finances, says the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).
Overseas purchasers are often unaware of a tradition of misquoting property prices in order to avoid high tax payments, says Ian Tonge, chair of the NAEA International Working group. “The value of a home can have been shown on Spanish land registry documents as a lower figure for decades, in order that less tax is paid,” he explains. “This means that if the local authority wants to purchase the land today, as has been highlighted in recent cases in Valencia, proving how much it is worth can be very difficult.
“Historically, people have been reluctant to put in the full price on their documents because that would force them to pay more tax than the gain they had made on the property,” he continues. “If their property is then needed for road widening purposes, for example, they will only receive the government’s recorded value on it, and will be unable to prove that they are owed more. Purchasers in Spain must be careful to declare the true value of their property to protect themselves.”
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do I need to know the language?
do I need to know the language? (4 replies) (from expat.telegraph)
Author: jenna
Date: 14 June 2006
Hey, I am looking for advice on moving to Spain. I want to open a bar on the Costa Del Sol in an English speaking area. Should I take a language course beforehand? If anyone has experience in this area I would be most grateful to hear from you! Thanks Jenny
Re: do I need to know the language? (reply 1)
Author: Nicholas Chappell
Date: 14 June 2006
Jenna, Yes! you should learn the language. Not only will it endear you to those with whom you do business on the Spanish side but you will enjoy the country a heck of a lot more. Your school French will help you!
Re: do I need to know the language? (reply 2)
Author: Geoffrey Carver
Date: 14 June 2006
I'm a little surprised at the question. What is the first language of Spain? What language will your suppliers most likely speak? And the bureaucrats and electricians and plumbers and bar staff and cleaners.....etc?
Re: do I need to know the language? (reply 3)
Author: Clive Montaut
Date: 16 June 2006
Jenny,definitely yes, Geoffrey has made the point. However, having spent 9 happy and enjoyable years in the Costa del Sol, I would caution any expats opening bars in the area. The coast has hundreds if not thousands of failed bar owners who have lost most if not all of their savings. Sorry being negative,but try to use any skills or expertise you have coupled with some research before investing in a business here. Regardless. very best of luck.
Re: do I need to know the language? (reply 4)
Author: Paddyhighlands
Date: 19 June 2006
How will you speak to people if you cannot speak the language, and you will need a very specific vocabulary to do your business. Go live there for 6 months, try to set up a businees, and then answer your own question... read more
Monday, May 01, 2006
Apartment in cuevas del almanzora
Apartment in cuevas del almanzora8 Feb 2006 Por Conde
2 Bed 1 Bathroom Apartment 105000€. 2 Bedroom 1 Bathroom 2nd Floor apartment.
Only 1 year old. Fully furnished. Situated in Cuevas de Almanzora. Within easy
walking distance of all amenities. As soon as it is bought you will be able to ...
Monday, February 27, 2006
Levante de Almeria news - march
Hello!
This is my last content blog in Almeria Real Estate Blog - march - 2006
Topics:
1.Protected areas in almeria
2.New transparency real estate regulation in Andalucia
3.World Quality of life Spain 10th
4.Honest map of almeria
5.Oportunities in Almeria (levante)
5.1.Cortijo in Las cunas - 86.000 euros
5.2.3 Apartments in Cuevas del Almanzora
5.2.4. Bar ad apartments, house and land
6.Home Buyer: Why is sometime more convenient to buy your home via HomeBuyer
7. Public prosecutor Stop 8000 houses in cuevas del almanzora
8.Carnaval pictures from Cuevas del Almanzora (sunday 26 february)
If you do not want to receive more my blog-monthly-new or some time ocasionally special oportunity, please send me email to almeriaestate@almeriaestate.co.uk or click here, and write in the subject: stop-blog
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Protected area in Almeria - POTA
There are places of comunitarian importance inside RENPA or outside RENPA.
Renpa is the acronym of Net of protected natural spaces
Categorías: pota, protected_area_almeria
almeria urban regional planning
Coastal development with the POTA (Plan de ordenamiento territorial urbano de Andalucia) the translation would be: Land and urban planning of Andalucia.
Here I hallmark only Almeria Coast
