What is the Plan General (PGOU)?

In simple terms, a Plan General De Ordenacion Urbana (PGOU) is an overall plan setting out proposals by a Town Hall administration for the general development of the municipality over a stipulated period of time.

A plan must accord with Municipal and Regional Government laws, e.g. the Territorial Plan for Andalucia (POTA) involving a series of land and other laws which cover various aspects e.g. infrastructure, protection of parkland, forests, rural land, water requirements, apportioning of land for industrial and residential urbanisations and many other considerations.

It is a multi-faceted, complicated plan which must go through several stages, including various public consultation processes which allow for objections, amendments, etc. The Plan must obtain final approval from the Regional Government, the Junta De Andalucia.

Why is the PGOU important to our cause?

Developers constructed our houses on land that is not currently zoned for development. These houses are therefore considered to be illegal. The AUAN is campaigning to ensure that the next PGOUs retrospectively resolve this situation.See Open Letter from President of AUAN 

Residential Urbanisations Under The Plan General

We have focused on residential urbanisations and the criteria imposed by the laws as to present and future development of the Almanzora Valley municipalities under their Plan General, as this is what affects people who have bought, or may intend to buy property in the area.

Urban Land

The Junta currently limits the growth of a municipality by 30% of it’s population and a maximum of 40% of its urban land for developments to cater for this level of growth over the planned period, which is understood to be of 8-10 years. To extend building beyond existing urban land, the existing urban land must first be exhausted and the new land to be used must first be zoned as urbanisable, taking into account infrastructure, other mandatory requirements and criteria and proximity to existing urban centres, i.e. a town or sufficiently large hamlet.

How can I see the PGOU for my area?