Planning for the future

Plan de Ordenacion del Territorio de la Costa del Sol (POT)

After years of confusion and piecemeal planning decisions the Junta de Andalucia has put together an integrated scheme for future development of the Western Costa del Sol.

In December, 2003, the Junta put together a team of economists, lawyers, architects, engineers and geographers to compile a plan which will allow for sustainable
development which would see urbanisation coordinated with infrastructure and and commercial projects, transport links and utilities to cater for the increased population and demands, as well as large swathes of green areas to break up these population centres.

The need for this plan can be clearly seen when taking into consideration the projected increase in the population of the Coast - some additional 1 million people by the year 2015.

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To do this the Western Costa del Sol has been broken up into sections, with Manilva being one of the westernmost municipalities. Under the plan each municipality will submit its own strategy to tie in with the broad scope of the 'master' plan. Each town hall is expected to finance the various schemes, even though they may be dictated by the the POT, but most of the major works are to be finacnced by the Junta which is investing a staggering €2,300,000,000 in the project.

Some of the major projects to be undertaken are a University for Estepona, more road improvements throughout the region and the long-awaited coastal rail link between Estepona and Malaga which is expected to be extended to Manilva and ultimately Algeciras.

The plan was completed at the end of 2004 and is now at the public consultation stage.There have been a few unforeseen problems in the plan that has resulted in a current redraft which will go to consultation and is expected to be 'cast in stone' later this year.

One of the main principles of the plan is that there will be various development zones with protected green areas in between and one of the biggest impacts to Manilva, besides the rail link and the Estepona University, is that it will be one of the major development zones in what is being called the 'Ciudad del Sol' or City of the Sun, with Estepona seeing very little major expansion.

With this development will come more resources in the way of health, sports and entertainment facilities, and will see a continuing expansion of employment and opportunity for the local population.