Spanish revival threatens coastal areas

With Spain’s continuing economic recovery, a new problem returns: over development of coastal areas with resorts and summer homes.

That hasn’t been a real threat since the sudden economic collapse of 2008 stopped thousands of projects in their tracks, leaving them abandoned, sometimes with construction equipment left on site. But now, numbers of the projects, including many along Catalonia’s Costa Brava, are reviving; some are already under construction after as much as 15 years of waiting.

But many residents in those areas aren’t any happier about the coastal developments than they were when the recession gave them a reprieve. Advocates against development have asked local authorities to stop the construction but have generally been told that the zoning and permits issued originally are still valid.