Spain: Balearic Building Frozen

The Balearic islands are to freeze all construction along the most delicate parts of coastlines and around the islands’ capitals in according to a report from the Guardian. The plan will come into force immediately in an effort to save some of the most beautiful coastlines on the islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca, from further development.

Although the full details of the plan have not yet been announced, it is understood that it will place a moratorium on development in one of Mallorca’s largest untouched bays, and in urban marshlands in Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca, where construction work was set to begin. Rural land around the newly constructed Son Espases hospital in Palma, located near a medieval monastery, will also be saved.

During this moratorium the parliament of the Balearic islands will redefine these areas as protected land, meaning that they cannot be built on in the future. There will also be parallel compensation negotiations with landowners and property developers.