Aviation report endangers ambitious project

PLAZA MAYOR shopping and leisure centre’s owners’ plans to extend and build a 23,000 square metre luxury brand outlet park have received a blow from the Civil Aviation Authorities, which have issued a negative report.

For the time being the report means carrying out the project, with an estimated investment of €115 million and due to create 1,000 jobs, will be difficult if not impossible as the authorities’ approval is crucial to allow the PGOU urban land plans to be modified to allow construction of the park, next to the current centre near Malaga City and the Costa del Sol airport.

The Civil Aviation report considered there were insufficient guarantees that the modification and subsequent construction would not affect airport safety as the land is within radio transmission areas for take-offs and landings where building is forbidden without express authorisation by the AESA State Agency for Air Safety.

Civil Aviation is also concerned about the height of the proposed buildings, which it believes surpass limits for the area and has asked for the town hall to present a specific aeronautical study which would have to be approved by AESA.