Santa Cruz Expands Cultural Heritage List, Halts Permits

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is significantly stepping up its efforts to protect its cultural heritage. This follows the publication yesterday of a new list of protected cultural heritage sites in the Official Gazette of the Province (BOP). This new planning tool, first approved by the city's government board on February 3, introduces a temporary halt on granting building and demolition permits for the properties it covers.

The new list considerably expands the number of protected sites in the municipality, now totaling 787. This figure represents a significant increase: 674 more properties than the current list from the 2005 General Urban Planning Plan (PGOU), and 518 more than those included in the 2013 General Planning Plan (PGO), which was later cancelled. In addition, 195 properties already protected under the Special Protection Plan for El Toscal will be included, along with others expected to be added from the neighborhoods of Los Hoteles–Pino de Oro and Antiguo Santa Cruz.

This temporary suspension of permits, which affects property divisions, building works, and demolitions, will remain in force for all assets newly incorporated into the catalogue while it is being processed. However, there are exceptions for properties already classified with 'protection level 1' in the 1992 'Buildings and Protected Spaces' document. The property at Rambla de Santa Cruz, number 124, which was specifically added in this review, is also exempt.

This building at Rambla de Santa Cruz 124, designed in 1930 by architect José Enrique Marrero Regalado, now joins other important city heritage sites like Palacio Cobiella and the former Victoria factory. Its publication in the BOP marks a key step in the catalogue's approval process. Next, it must appear in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) for a period of public information and consultation before it can be definitively approved.