Developments and news from around the area

We've tried to pull together any new stories that we've heard of from around the area, mainly of developments that we think are going to have an effect on house prices and tourism. The only stories that we print are ones that have actually been printed in newspapers, or we've seen with our own eyes. God knows you can't actually believe everything you read in the papers, but we don't want to be contributing stories that are unfounded rumours.

A-45

The big ongoing development is the construction of the A45 motorway, directly linking Malaga to Cordoba on a brand new 2 lane highway. Currently the A45 runs from Malaga up to the A92 Seville to Granada road, and then continues on the single lane N331 up to Cordoba. This is a fairly busy road, and delays were usual, especially if you got stuck behind a large lorry and couldn't safely overtake. The new road is at least 60% complete. The section from Rute to Cordoba is now fully open, which has significantly shaved down journey times to Cordoba. Also, the section from the A92, to the junction with Villanueva Del Agaidas and Alameda junction is also now open, knocking probably ten minutes off journey times to Malaga. The final phase is well underway, and should be completed within the next 12 months, as they are currently running ahead of schedule.

Antequera Airport

Plans are still being finalised for an airport at Antequera to ease the burden on Malaga airport, which is itself having a second runway and a new terminal building added. The date set for completion is 2013, and the airport will be designed to meet the needs of low cost carriers.This will have a tremendous impact on tourism and house prices in the area, putting most of the properties in our portfolio within a 20 - 30 minute drive from the airport. The airport is to be situated on the plain to the north of Antequera.

This is great news not only for people investing in property in the area, but with the amount of new jobs and tourism being created, good news for younger people wanting to move over here and start a new life.

Meanwhile, Ryanair continues to fly into Granada airport from Stanstead, Gatwick and Liverpool and East Midlands in the UK, often with great pricing, but it seems that monarch are pulling out of using Granada airport after December 2007. Both Malaga and Granada airports have a journey time of around an hour to the area, and Granada is often easier to negotiate, as it is smaller.

Golf Courses

The area already has a fine golf course at Antequera, 30 mins away, and there is a new course being built at Lucena, roughly 20 mins drive to the north. No news as to any opening dates so far. Plans are currently on the table for another course directly between Cuevas De San Marcos and Rute. The course will no doubt give a fantastic boost to property and land prices. The new course will be no more than 10 minutes drive from either Cuevas De San Marcos or Rute.

Disneyland Spain?

Lastly, there is some news being reported by The Times that Disney are planning to build either a summer camp, or a full-on Disneyworld style park in Spain near Marbella. Although details are sketchy, and Marbella is an hour away, this can only come as good news for the tourism and property market in Andalucia. We've had this as news for over a year now, and still can't get any kind of definite answers as to where, or if this resort is going ahead. No doubt the details are all top secret, but we'll keep you posted as and when any kind of official anouncement is made

IKEA Malaga

IKEA Malaga is now open, and although it does get exceedingly packed at the weekend, somehow seems to be a less soul destroying experience than shopping at UK IKEA outlets. Traffic around the store was a nightmare to begin with, but seems to have settled down now. They are currently building more stores around it.