Diana Morales: “It is a legal guarantee of security in the planning arena that will attract new investment and help to regenerate the economy.”
Diana Morales, owner/MD of real estate agency DM Properties, established in Marbella for over 30 years.
“The approval of the PGOU by Marbella Town Hall is a positive step, especially as it was agreed by both of the leading political parties, and in spite of the fact that many aspects of the plan did not satisfy everyone. There are some who feel it does not offer sufficient compensation for past planning
irregularities, others who believe it was a mistake to omit some urbanisations from the plan which are already constructed. “It will be very important to reach an agreement with the Junta to approve the plan before Christmas. After all the delay and uncertainty, it is a legal guarantee of security in the planning arena that will attract new investment in the city and help to regenerate the economy, creating employment and wealth. “But a town plan must attend to the needs of the population and aim to solve their problems, bearing in mind the interest of most citizens and not just a few. That is, public interest must prevail. This is the moral obligation of the authorities and something that was certainly violated by the previous corrupt administrations in Marbella. It also depends on providing the proper infrastructure to attend to the needs of a growing population. The plan is certainly ambitious and anticipates a substantial investment in infrastructure on the part of central, regional and local government, as well as from the private sector. But will it be financially feasible? Pablo Moro has said that Marbella has the right to demand investment from the higher administrations, since the municipality was very much
abandoned by them over the last 15 years. He hopes that they will be fair to Marbella now, over its petitions for financial support. My question is, will this be achieved? How many of those needs will be attended to? How many of these ambitious projects will be carried out? “I have as many questions as anyone in Marbella. What is no doubt certain is that a plan, even with defects, is better than the limbo and paralysis we have been immersed in, creating a legal framework in which to operate that will generate confidence among developers, investors and local business people. “In spite of the bad and often biased press we have had during the last couple of years, Marbella continues to be a most desirable holiday destination and a great place to reside all year round, and we expect there will be more people buying, once the banks are ready to lend money on property that will be legalised under the new plan. Even if the press continues to focus on cases that go to court this can be countered if, at the same time, the Administration proves to be efficient and there are evident improvements in Marbella, coupled with some effective and honest campaigns to restore its image.” n
Marbella continues to offer an enviable lifestyle as this southeast-facing 167m2 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment in beautiful La Trinidad suggests, available for sale from DM Properties for €795.000.
i
DM Properties Avda Ricardo Soriano 72 B1, Marbella. Tel: 952 765 138. www.dmproperties.com / info@dmproperties.com FM Consulting C.C. Centro Plaza 1ª, 2-14, Nueva Andalucía. Tel: 952 810 000. www.fmconsulting.es / info@fmconsulting.es Panorama Properties Offices at the Puente Romano Hotel and opposite the Marbella Club Hotel. Tel: 952 863 750. www.panorama.es/ info@panorama.es
96
essential marbella magazine
126Pr.indd 96
22/9/09 15:15:10