Plans for the Costa del Sol’s latest leisure and shopping complex are finally coming to fruition, as the project’s developer has confirmed building work on the 200,000 square metre site is to start this autumn. Scheduled for completion in 2017, the mega leisure centre complex is yet another attraction Malaga province can boast, when promoting itself to potential holiday home buyers. Torremolinos is just a short drive from Marbella.
Spanning a site the size of 30 football pitches, the mega leisure and shopping complex is the brainchild of a British developer Intu UK, who will no doubt – Brexit fears or not – have made sure the site has been designed to please fellow Brits. Already a total of 500 million Euros have been invested in the development of the site, which should eventually provide 4,000 new jobs to locals, excluding the jobs created while the site is in construction.
Despite Brexit Fears, record numbers of Foreigners are moving to Spain
News of the start date for the building works comes amid new figures released by Spain’s Office of National Statistics that reveal the number of foreigners moving to Spain is greater than the number of foreigners leaving the country for the first time since 2010, when the economic crisis was at its worst.
Last year, 291,387 foreigners left behind cold climes at home to settle into new homes in places like Marbella, Estepona and Torremolinos to enjoy a far better lifestyle than they could have ever expected to have at home. During the same 12 month period, however, the National Statistics Office’s figures show that 253,069 disaffected foreigners left Spain. Fears over Brexit and continued worries over Spain’s unemployment situation will have prompted many to leave behind their place in the sun, no matter how heart-wrenching a decision it might have been.
News of 4,000 new permanent jobs therefore will have been greeted with a loud cheer at the Costa del Sol. Torremolinos is well connected road-wise, so an easy place to commute to for those seeking a job.
Fourth Spanish Development for Intu
The leisure complex in Torremolinos is the fourth such development in Spain for developers Intu, who have sixteen UK sites to their credit and can point to success stories in Asturias, Galicia and Zaragoza.
In the UK, Intu’s shopping and leisure malls see some 400 million visitors every year, proving that the concept is clearly highly attractive to visitors.
Intu Costa del Sol will have a boating lake at its heart, which will boast a wave machine to please surfers and there will also be an artificial ski slope, where those not quite ready to try the real thing in the Sierra Nevada in neighbouring Granada province can practice their skiing skills.
The complex is located near the Palacio de Congresos, which is easily accessible from the A-7 road. Torremolinos Town Hall has already completed the official plans, now the Junta will have to work over the plans in order for building work to start in autumn.
For northern Europeans currently considering the move to Spain, this will make buying a permanent home at the Costa del Sol even more attractive. Within a short drive or bus journey, the Costa del Sol has a multitude of tourist attractions, sports and leisure facilities, as well as fantastic shopping and dining to offer. House prices are also still cheaper than in many other EU countries, making the move to Spain an irresistible temptation for many.