The Arona Town Council, located in the south of Tenerife, has completed, after more than three decades, the Partial Plan for El Mojón. This plan encompasses nearly one million square metres of expansion and forecasts up to 8,900 beds, comprising both residential and tourist accommodations, all aimed at “gentle construction” and with low building density.
The Councillor for Urban Development, Javier Baute, stated on Tuesday in comments to EFE that the project will proceed under these “gentle construction” principles, targeting a higher quality tourism. He highlighted that most of the plots are privately owned, therefore it is the responsibility of the owners to develop them in accordance with the permitted planning.
The aim is to avoid an intensive and overcrowded model, “with a building density significantly below what is allowed, targeting a higher quality and spending tourist profile, distancing ourselves from the mass tourism model”.
“We are at ground zero; we have just approved the reception of the partial plan. Within six months, we could be obtaining the first licenses, both for hotels and commercial purposes,” Baute notes. He emphasises that the Town Council has strengthened its technical staff “by over 20%” and will continue to do so as necessary to handle the impending workload.
The Urban Planning head indicated that the land the Town Council receives consists of green areas, already developed, as well as roadways, in addition to three parcels designated for facilities, with no possibility of constructing public housing as there is no land of that nature nor such planning in the project.
Concerning the profile of the future town, Baute recalls it was defined over three decades ago, combining residential and tourist usage. He pointed out that there are other areas in the municipality more focused on housing for the local population, such as the Cho-Parque La Reina zone, which has plans for up to one thousand residences for residents.
In this respect, he specified that the parks and green areas “are already finished and awaiting reception in the coming months,” while educational, cultural, and sports facilities “are not planned in the short term,” although he did not rule out the possibility of constructing, for instance, an auditorium.
“It could be an attraction for the south of Tenerife. A large, functional auditorium where concerts can be held. The design is yet to be determined; we could allocate the land to a public administration, such as the Government or Cabildo. But those are technical issues we have not yet considered,” Baute exemplifies.
When asked whether an increase in population is anticipated in connection with the El Mojón development, Baute indicated that the Compensation Board, comprised of the developers, estimates the maximum of 8,900 residential and tourist beds, which would imply at least the same number of resident population.
Regarding investment figures, the councillor states that the direct investment associated with the plan’s development is around €2 billion, with an indirect impact that could reach €8 billion, based on figures from the developers, who tend to be “more optimistic”.
In any case, he expresses, this direct investment will be at least double that, around €4 billion.
Three Decades of Waiting
The Special Plan for El Mojón was approved in 1996, with its urbanisation project following in 1998; “however, numerous technical, legal, and management difficulties have paralysed its development for over 30 years,” the Town Council stated on Tuesday.
With nearly one million square metres in total, upon partial reception, the municipality receives the free transfer of 332,900 square metres of urbanised land for infrastructure and public services.
Of this area, 120,000 square metres will be allocated for roads, parking, and pedestrian zones; 11,400 for educational facilities; 15,900 for public sports installations; and 17,000 for cultural equipment.
The Town Council will also manage green spaces and areas for community use, which will allow for “the reorganisation of Los Cristianos and its surroundings, generating new areas for facilities and reinforcing sustainable mobility in Arona.”
The president of the El Mojón Compensation Board, Miguel Villarroya, noted in a statement that this is “a giant step for the municipality after more than 30 years of stasis.”
He further emphasised that the project is designed to attract visitors “who contribute more to the local economy” and who, by opting for higher quality services and experiences, “spend more in shops, restaurants, and local activities, enhancing Arona’s economy without disproportionately increasing pressure on the infrastructure.”
The mayor, Fátima Lemes, has highlighted that regarding El Mojón, “we are no longer talking about promises but about realities” and that Arona will have available land for public facilities “that have been long awaited.”
The council asserts that this initiative “will mark a new phase in the comprehensive transformation of the municipality, which has experienced continuous demographic and tourist growth in recent decades.”
