Tenerife’s Council has announced a public hearing for the developer behind the Underwater Gardens Park project, aimed at promoting marine conservation along Guía de Isora’s coastline. This follows a negative review by the Directorate of Strategic Projects (DIPE), which found significant deficiencies in the proposal after examining the submitted documents.
Initially intended as a regenerative park to link scientific, educational, and recreational activities with tourism, the project consists of two interconnected parts. The marine section, called Sea Garden, focuses on underwater regeneration, while the land-based Garden Gate is designed as an educational hub.
The Council emphasised that its authority only extends to land management, meaning the project is limited to rural land and does not encompass the marine operations or certain protected coastal areas deemed unsuitable for private initiatives. DIPE’s Director, Alicia Leirachá, stated that the developer was asked to revise the project to comply with current legal standards while retaining its regenerative focus.
However, after a thorough review in 2026, the reports indicated ongoing significant deficiencies preventing progress. Key issues included failure to meet project reconfiguration requirements, inadequate technical definitions, and a lack of essential planning and management details.
Additional shortcomings included insufficient economic justification and missing administrative permits vital for marine regeneration efforts, which are central to the project’s concept. Many proposed facilities, such as educational spaces and biodiversity centres, rely on these environmental actions, which lie outside the Council’s jurisdiction.
With nearly two years passing since the project’s initial declaration of interest, the developer had multiple opportunities to rectify documentation gaps but did not meet the necessary standards. The Council has now granted a 15-day window for the developer to submit any additional evidence or arguments before a final decision is made.
