PROPERTY SEARCH
No more high-rise tower blocks in La Manga, San Javier mayor declares
A planning overhaul will cut building capacity by 30% and ban new residential towers on undeveloped land in La Manga del Mar Menor
The mayor of San Javier has announced that no more residential tower blocks will be built in La Manga del Mar Menor, at least not in the stretch from kilometre 4 to kilometre 19 that falls within the municipality.
José Miguel Luengo confirmed that a modification to the area's planning regulations is under way that will remove the option of collective residential development on land that hasn't yet been built on, replacing it with hotels, tourist accommodation and complementary services, while also cutting overall building density by around 30%.
In practical terms, the change would reduce the total developable area from around 416,665 square metres, enough under current rules to accommodate approximately 4,000 new homes, down to 317,000 square metres reserved exclusively for tourism infrastructure. That's a reduction of roughly 100,000 square metres of potential urban development.
According to the mayor, La Manga already has more than 20,400 homes but only around 3,000 registered residents, with the vast majority of properties sitting empty for much of the year. He argued that continuing to build second homes that are only occupied during the summer months makes the area's already pronounced tourism seasonality even worse, and that what La Manga actually needs is more year-round economic activity, not more empty apartments.
With around 80% of La Manga already developed, the mayor said the remaining land simply can't afford to follow the same model.
He also pointed out that the shortage of hotel beds is limiting La Manga's appeal to major tour operators and that under the new approach, the area could eventually reach around 16,000 tourist places between hotels and apartments, including homes already used for holiday lets.
The proposal is backed by technical and legal reports, and Luengo said the council is confident it's protected against potential legal challenges from landowners.
He urged those with undeveloped residential plots to reconsider their plans in light of the direction of travel, describing La Manga as a uniquely valuable stretch of Mediterranean coastline that deserves a development model “that will improve the destination and generate activity throughout the year”.
For more local events, news and visiting information contact the tourist offices of San Javier (main contact number 661 572285) or go to the home page of San Javier Today.
Image: Enrique Freire via Wikipedia
Address
Calle Padre Juan. Centro Cultural Principe de Asturias 30720 SAN JAVIERTel: 968 571 704
Oficina de Turismo de San Javier
The municipality of San Javier has three main offices giving tourist information to visitors, as well as two information points. The tourist offices are located in Santiago de la Ribera, on the ground floor of the town hall in San Javier and at the start of La Manga. There is also a summer tourist information point located on the seafront in Santiago de la Ribera as well as one at kilometre 12-13 of La Manga del Mar Menor next to Playa Mistral.
Due to its location on the fringes of the Mar Menor and Mediterranean, San Javier has a period of intense summer tourism activity during the peak summer months, although it is popular with retirees of all nationalities out of peak season.
Tickets for the annual San Javier Jazz Festival can be purchased at the Festival office in San Javier Town Hall, Plaza de España.
Timetables summer 2024:
Tourist office Santiago de la Ribera (Calle Padre Juan 30720, Santiago de la Ribera)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Telephone: 661 572285
Email: turismo@sanjavier.es
La Manga del Mar Menor (Gran Vía Km. 0 30380, La Manga del Mar Menor):
May 1 to September 30:
Weekdays 10.00 to 14.00 and 17.00 to 19.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.30 to 13.00
Telephone 968 128955 ext. 2
Tourist information point of San Javier (Plaza de España, 30730 San Javier):
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00
968 573 700 ext #5351
Email: concejaliadeturismo@sanjavier.es
Tourist information point of Santiago de la Ribera (Paseo Colón on the seafront)
Weekdays 9.00 to 14.00 and 18.00 to 21.00
Weekends and public holidays 10.00 to 13.00
Tourist information point of La Manga del Mar Menor (Playa Mistral, km 12)
Weekdays 11.00 to 18.00
Weekends and public holidays 11.00 to 14.00
