Los Realejos Urban Plan Sparks Controversy Over Coastal Development Near Rambla de Castro

The recent approval of the General Urban Development Plan (PGO) for Los Realejos has triggered a heated debate, with the political group Drago Canarias leading the opposition. The controversy centers on the rezoning of two plots of land near the protected Rambla de Castro landscape, measuring roughly 5,000 and 64,500 square meters.

Drago Canarias argues that the municipal plan ignores the ecological fragility of this coastal area. They contend that environmental protection shouldn't just apply to the protected sites themselves, but also to the surrounding land. Their primary concern is the smaller plot, where the new plan allows for 83 accommodation units. Javier Álvarez, the group’s spokesperson, warns that this could lead to a large hotel complex on the beachfront, describing the move as speculative development.

The debate has also turned to the vague environmental safeguards within the PGO. While the plan requires projects to follow Tenerife’s tourism and coastal regulations, critics argue these rules lack necessary detail. There is a widespread fear that the plan’s loose wording could be exploited, allowing for hotel developments that clash with the sensitive landscape under the guise of "minimizing visual impact."

This situation highlights the ongoing tension in the Canary Islands between expanding tourism and protecting the environment. As the Rambla de Castro becomes the center of this dispute, it raises serious questions about whether Tenerife's current planning policies are strong enough to prevent the degradation of areas bordering protected land.