The Ecologists in Action collective has publicly urged the elite branch of the Civil Guard, the esteemed Nature Protection Service (Seprona), to address the administrative tolerance in Gran Canaria regarding alleged preferential treatment toward the Lopesan group, one of the main tour operators in the Canary Islands, in the context of allegedly illegal construction works on the southern coast of Gran Canaria. Note to the reader: This news story was corrected on the evening of June 4, 2025, due to an error in interpretation after being alerted by the reporting source.
According to the complaint sent to the media and the Prosecutor's Office, Lopesan is reportedly using earth extracted from a new hotel under construction next to ExpoMeloneras to fill in its old golf course in Pasito Blanco, which has led, according to environmentalists, to the clogging of the public ravines of Hornillo and Pasito Blanco, in addition to the construction of an unauthorized retaining wall in a coastal easement area.
Environmentalists warn that the filling of ravines and the closure of access to Hornillo beach, presented by Lopesan as a temporary measure, represents a possible covert privatization of the coastline, in direct violation of the Coastal Law. They also warn of the hydraulic risks involved in altering natural drainage systems in the midst of a climate emergency.
From a financial perspective, the ongoing urban development operations are part of the controversial release of tourist land in the Meloneras 2A area, where more than 300.000 m² have been released for hotel use, enabling up to 3.600 new tourist beds. The model was unanimously approved by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council and endorsed in 2022 by the Gran Canaria Island Council, chaired by Antonio Morales (NC).
Lopesan, which manages assets worth hundreds of millions of euros, could face significant reputational risk in European institutional environments, where compliance with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) criteria has become central to accessing financing, incentives, and licenses. "This uncontrolled growth model contradicts the official narrative of regional sustainability and places the Canary Islands at the center of citizen pressure," Turcón points out.
The environmental organization demands the immediate halt of the works, the restoration of the disturbed public domain, the reopening of access to the coast, exemplary sanctions for the company responsible, and an independent investigation into the actions of the Seprona (National Police) in this case.
Turcón statement:
"Several environmental organizations have denounced the works carried out without the required authorizations or reports. Lopesan is allegedly using earth extracted from the construction of the new hotel it is building next to the ExpoMeloneras to fill in an old golf course it owns in Pasito Blanco, burying two public ravines in the process: Hornillo and Pasito Blanco. This filling has been carried out without authorization from the Gran Canaria Island Water Council, seriously affecting public waterways protected by law. A retaining wall (dike) measuring 8 meters high and 45 meters long has been built in a protected easement area, also without a report or authorization from the Coastal Authority or the Island Water Council.
Public access to Hornillo Beach has been closed, a serious violation under the Coastal Law. Although the closure is presented as temporary, groups fear it represents a covert and permanent privatization of the coastline.
Complaints filed
Gran Canaria Island Water Council, due to the clogging and disappearance of public waterways.
Canary Islands Government Coastal Demarcation, due to the closure of public access to the beach and the construction of the breakwater.
Canary Islands Agency for the Protection of the Natural Environment, due to the impact on the protected environment.
Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Civil Guard, for possible environmental crimes.
San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, affected territory and control of urban planning legality.
An unsustainable model
The groups denounce that these types of actions follow the same modus operandi as 40 years ago, where private interests continue to prevail over public interests with the complicity or inaction of institutions.
They harshly criticize the fact that, in the midst of the climate emergency, ravines are being sealed and natural drains blocked, increasing the risk of flooding and violating any logic of responsible planning.
Meloneras 2A: the urban development boom
These actions are part of the new urban planning process unblocked in Meloneras 2A, where more than 300.000 m² of public land has been released for tourist use.
Although garden areas and infrastructure improvements were promised, the reality is that new hotels are already being built with no vision for territorial sustainability.
This liberalization was unanimously approved by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, including by the Nueva Canarias party, and endorsed in 2022 by the Gran Canaria Island Council, chaired by Antonio Morales (NC), with the new Island Territorial Planning Plan, which allows for the creation of more than 129.000 new tourist accommodation spaces.
It is deeply hypocritical that those who present themselves as defenders of the Eco-Island model are the ones who are allowing the systematic destruction of our territory.
Furthermore, the new urban planning for Meloneras 2A enables five plots of land for the construction of hotels of up to seven floors, with a total capacity of at least 3.600 beds, further reinforcing the massive tourism growth model being implemented in the area.
