Long-empty Estepona seafront site takes major step towards new hotel

A long-empty seafront plot in Estepona could finally return to its former hotel use after more than three decades, with the latest planning move bringing a new hotel project at Seghers closer to reality. Estepona Town Hall has initially approved a detailed planning study for the A-UEN-R2 Hotel Seghers development, covering a prime piece of land, a stone’s throw from the marina, promenade and Playa del Cristo.

Approval does not mean construction can begin right away. A 20-working-day public consultation has now opened, giving residents and other interested parties the opportunity to submit objections before the planning process continues.

Estepona hotel project moves forward

Covering over 13,000 square metres, the site is one of the remaining hotel-designated plots close to the Estepona coastline. Plans allow for up to 6,880 square metres of built floor space, with a proposed building reaching ground floor plus four further floors and a penthouse. No building currently occupies the plot, but the location has a hotel history. A hotel operated there more than 30 years ago before the site was left undeveloped.

Developers Seghers Luxury Hotel SL are now seeking to bring the land back into tourism use through a project designed under current planning rules. The site forms part of the historic Seghers development, one of Estepona’s earliest tourism areas, which was opened in the early 1970s.

A site with a complicated past

Planning for the land has not always been straightforward. A judicial auction involving the plot took place in 2020 through Estepona’s courts, with the property valued at around €24 million.

Questions surrounding the site also arose in 2013, when its permitted building capacity was increased while the land was subject to a judicial seizure linked to the Malaya corruption investigation. Current planning work is focused on establishing the conditions needed for the proposed hotel to progress under today’s regulations.

New plans reshape the Seghers plot

Changes to the coastline and surrounding land have altered the size and boundaries of the original development area. The detailed planning study takes account of the new boundaries created following the demarcation of Spain’s maritime-terrestrial public domain and the partial removal of protected livestock-route status from part of the land.

Internal roads, green areas and public facilities will be reorganised as part of the planning process, while the land retains its hotel designation.

Why the Estepona site matters

Location gives the project particular importance, sitting between Avenida del Carmen, the marina and the seafront, close to Playa del Cristo. Estepona has spent recent years building its reputation as one of the Costa del Sol’s most popular tourism destinations, with new hotels, restaurants and property developments adding to its appeal.

Environmental and coastal considerations also feature in the planning process. Changes to the boundaries of the site take account of Spain’s maritime-terrestrial public domain, while a 30-metre strip beside the sea is being reserved for the future continuation of the promenade. Part of the historic Cañada Real Los Barrios a Estepona livestock route also crosses the area, with its protected status previously adjusted to reflect the development plans.