€750m leisure complex planned for Velez delta

A GROUP of landowners has expressed its interest in building a €750m complex at the delta of the Velez River, in Velez-Malaga. There has already been talk of creating a retail park near the motorway. Now, a project has been presented to the town hall for the construction of a hotel complex with sports and leisure facilities in the delta, which is included in the Axarquia Plan for Territorial Distribution, as an area for projects which will encourage tourism.

The planned complex would include a marina with space for 1,050 yachts, an 18-hole golf course, 2,446 houses, a hotel with room for more than 8,500 guests, as well as a seven kilometre seafront promenade and a boulevard in place of the old N-340.

The Urban Planning Department has begun to look into the project which also plans for a cycle lane and walking areas, a park on either side of the river, and the development of the Peñon de Almayate, and the Phoenician archaeological sites which are found in the area, where a museum could be built.

The idea is to create a whole leisure and tourism experience closely linked to the sea, and the sand extracted to create a marina would be used to improve local beaches.

The complex would be located on a surface of more than four million square metres, most of which would not be built upon.

The promoters estimate that the project could take some 12 years from when it is approved by the town hall, creating some 5,000 jobs, as well as 6,000 in the construction.

However, the idea is to carry it out in stages, so that the completed areas can be used and enjoyed by local residents.

By Jennifer Leighfield