Alejandro Marichal: “In 2023 we will stop the file, after its review it has been determined that the promoter's financial contribution must go from 107.509 to 322.527 euros”
Davinia Ramírez: “This file is an example of the supervision that the Urban Planning area carries out to ensure that urban transformations are carried out with transparency and in the benefit of the public interest”
The Department of Urban Planning of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council will take the final approval of the project to the next municipal plenary session in February. Urban development agreement for the change of use of the underground floor of the El Tablero Shopping Centre, a measure that will allow the conversion of these spaces, currently used as warehouses, into commercial premises.
The proposal, promoted by the company Property Management El Siglo SL, affects a total of Sqm 4.582,36 and responds to an application for urban modification submitted in 2021. As part of the agreement, the developer company must pay the City Council a Financial compensation for the increase in the value of the land resulting from the change in authorized use.
Initially, a 5% of urban development, but after reviewing the file, the Department of Urban Planning determined that a 15%, which raises the contribution to 322.527,12 Euros, of which still remain to be paid 215.018,12 EurosIn addition, the promoter must process the commercial license before the Government of the Canary Islands and a new municipal enabling title for the activity.
The Councilor for Urban Planning, Davinia Ramirez, has stressed the importance of this file, highlighting that "This is an action that not only boosts economic activity in the municipality, but also ensures that urban modifications comply with the principles of legality and equity. Our objective is that any change in land use generates a fair return for the community, avoiding imbalances and ensuring that the obligations established in current regulations are met.".
In addition, Ramírez has pointed out that this file is an example of the oversight work that the Urban Planning area has been carrying out so that urban transformations in the municipality "are carried out with transparency and in the public interest".
A key file that prevented damage to the City Council
The processing of this file has not been free of controversy. In March 2023, during a municipal plenary session, Alejandro Marichal, at that time spokesman for Canarian Coalition in San Bartolomé de Tirajana, paralyzed its approval upon detecting that the amount the promoter had to pay was significantly lower to which it legally corresponded. At that time, the established contribution was 107.509 Euros, which meant a serious detriment to the municipality. Marichal then argued that this figure did not respond to the appropriate assessment criteria and that the change of use should be properly assessed, which is why the matter was left off the agenda.
Two years later, and after the technical and legal review of the file, It has been determined that the financial contribution must be tripled, reaching 322.527,12 euros.
The now first deputy mayor has highlighted the importance of this decision for the defense of the municipal heritage and equity in urban planning processes, recalling that "in 2023, we decided to stop this file because we knew that the regulations were not being applied correctly and that the City Council was failing to receive a fair amount for this change of use. Today we see that that decision was the correct one and that this administration is here to protect the interests of citizens, ensuring that private investments generate real benefits for the municipality and not unjustified privileges".
On the other hand, Marichal has stressed the importance of renewing the commercial spaces in the municipality, stating that "San Bartolomé de Tirajana cannot allow its shopping centres to become obsolete. We are committed to modernising and revitalising these spaces so that they remain competitive and attractive for both residents and visitors.".
Along these lines, he recalled that the City Council continues to work on facilitate the renovation and updating of shopping complexes, ensuring that urban interventions are carried out under criteria of sustainability and efficiency. "Every investment in the improvement of a shopping centre is an investment in the local economy and in the quality of the tourist destination. This file allows us to take a further step in that direction," he concludes. Marichal.
