Supreme Court Orders Demolition of Private Facilities on Tenerife Coastline

The recovery of public land at Punta del Hidalgo has reached a final turning point. The Supreme Court has officially rejected a motion filed by the Charco de la Arena Recreational Society, effectively ending a long-running legal battle. This ruling confirms that the private facilities, which have occupied this stretch of the Tenerife coastline since 1963, must now be demolished.

The Court was clear in its decision, stating that the society’s appeal had no constitutional basis and was merely an attempt to revisit a case that had already been settled in March. With no further legal avenues available, the order to dismantle the building and the pool is now final and mandatory.

For the San Cristóbal de La Laguna City Council, this is a victory for their urban planning strategy, which aims to return natural spaces to the public in line with the Coastal Law. The local government has asked the National Court to enforce the ruling, giving the recreational society until June 14 to carry out the demolition themselves.

This decision marks the end of an era when privatizing coastal areas was common. Modern regulations are much stricter, and the City Council has successfully argued that these private structures prevent the public from enjoying a valuable natural asset.

If the society fails to demolish the structures by the June deadline, the City Council is authorized to step in and handle the work. In that scenario, the council would remove the debris and bill the society’s board of directors for the full cost, highlighting the local government's commitment to closing this chapter of La Laguna’s coastal history.