News in the Algarve

 

 

 Reproduced from 'The Portugal News, Portugal's National Newspaper in English'.

 

 


 

 

No more construction for coastline.... New regulations have led the Regional Coordination and Development Committee (CCDR) to guarantee that, whilst more development can be expected to take place within the region, building within 500 metres of the coast will be strictly forbidden due to new PROTAL restrictions (Regional Planning and Territorial Ordaining) that the CCDR intends to fully enforce.

 

 

 

Talking to press agency Lusa, Joćo Faria, head of the CCDR, said that, at present, within the 500 metre coastline band, only 1.3 per cent of all land is undeveloped and that a full balance has now been reached.

"We understand hoteliers complaints that possibilities for investment have now been limited, but this is the region's only possible balance", he said, describing the existing percentage of free land as "despicable".

He also added that within 2.000 metres of the coastline the situation is little better, offering 10 per cent of undeveloped land.

The new PROTAL restrictions, implemented in August, could eventually be changed should other regional entities appeal for alteration.

Said Joćo Faria, "the brakes need to be put on this pressure that is weighing on the coast", explaining the need to diminish the asymmetry between the over-populated coastline and the nearly deserted interior.