Supreme Court upholds building ban on controversial hotel

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the preventive suspension of a registration plan that would allow construction on the controversial El Algarrobico hotel in Cabo de Gata, Almería, to be completed.

The court slapped down an appeal by the regional government of Andalusia against the suspension of the Land Use Registration Plan for Natural Resources in the Cabo de Gata-Níjar area, which the regional authorities believed would open the door to the construction of new buildings and the remodeling of others for tourism.

The Supreme Court of Andalusia had previously suspended the registration plan for zone C3, where the hotel is located, due to the potential "devastating effect" the construction could have.

Greenpeace Spain had lodged an appeal against the hotel's termination, which the regional government of Andalusia took before the Supreme Court.

In a statement, Supreme Court Judge Jesús Peces Morate said the decision of the magistrates to put the skids on the finalization of the hotel had been made "precisely in the public interest in protecting the environment."