The mayor of Adeje (Tenerife), José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga (PSOE), has affirmed on Friday that “there is no other way than the continuity of the Cuna del Alma project”, after meeting with the Canary Islands Government and the Cabildo regarding the construction works of this tourist urbanization.
The municipal council considers this to be “a great project” that will double the available public space in the area, improve beach access, and significantly reduce occupancy standards, hence it “must move forward, encompassing all aspects, from urbanistic to environmental.”
Rodríguez Fraga gave a historical overview of this project, stating that it has generated rights since 1982 and had its partial plan approved since 1998. However, 16 years later, in 2014, it initiated a “downward modification” intending to expand public areas and decrease the buildability.
“The modification of this plan was finally approved in 2018, and in 2022, the urbanization works were initiated. Thus, it has been a process covered legally, with its administrative acts regulated,” he explained.
He argued that “the most important aspect” is that Cuna del Alma has undergone “all its procedures” throughout 30 years of processes. The council’s stance is to continue on this path, ruling out the option of purchasing the lands: “It wouldn’t be a solution; we would have to go through open competition,” he argued.
The mayor of Adeje justified this recent decision by highlighting the reality that the Municipality is not in a position to bear the cost and the “serious responsibility” that halting the project would entail. He stated, “It would amount to 200 million Euros, and if we were to make a purchase, I would prefer acquiring the outdated and bet on what makes us competitive.”
He added that Cuna del Alma is a project without a building permit, although it has the required tourist qualification. Consequently, the project is currently immersed in the urbanization phase to designate the land itself as a building site.
Rodríguez Fraga expressed his view that a review of the tourism model and economic diversification is necessary and acknowledged that “there are dysfunctions.” However, he stated that the main “driver” that must continue working is tourism and that one should not be swayed by the events of April 20, where halting Cuna del Alma was among the demands.
In this regard, he called for a calm reflection and evaluation of the consequences, although acknowledging that he relates to the citizen discontent expressed on April 20 regarding infrastructure, housing scarcity, mobility, and the economic situation of the Canary Islands residents.
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Regarding his party colleague and mayor of Granadilla, Jennifer Miranda (PSOE), who did not attend Friday’s meeting with the Canary Islands Government to discuss the La Tejita hotel, he mentioned that he “respects” her and understands that they are different issues in different municipalities. Nevertheless, he believes that the political assessment is separate from the institutional relationship with the Government.
