Spain faces massive demolition along coastline

In the coming years, thousands of homes along the Spanish coast will fall to the state when the clemency period of the Coast Law expires. The 1988 Ley de Costas forbids the construction of private property within 100 metres of the sea. Action groups are accusing the government of demolishing homes at random while sparing the properties of major real estate developers. The European Parliament agrees that Spain should afford better protection to foreign homeowners.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 16.9.06: Spain buys up coast to halt concrete creep http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/sep/16/travelnews.spain

The Sunday Times, 4.11.07: Too close for comfort http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/overseas/article2785450.ece

European Parliament: Press Release, 26.3.09: European Parliament criticises 'extensive urbanisation' practices in Spain http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/021-52627-082-03-13-902-20090325IPR52626-23-03-2009-2009-false/default_en.htm

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