Arona Unlocks Major Urban Development in Los Cristianos
The Arona City Council and the El Mojón Compensation Board have signed the partial plan approval for a major new development in Los Cristianos. This project will create nearly 9,000 beds, with almost half designated for hotel use and the remainder for residential purposes. It will feature 245,000 square meters of roadways and two urban parks, each spanning 26,000 square meters, which are not covered by this specific agreement.
Transforming the Largest Urban Land Reserve in the Canaries
This move unblocks the largest parcel of urban land in the Canary Islands, covering almost one million square meters. The majority of this space (60%) is allocated for housing. The El Mojón area will feature three hotels, each with a maximum of three stories. The buildability is set at just 0.49% per plot (0.29% within the partial plan’s calculation), significantly lower than the 2% average typically applied to existing hotel constructions in the tourist zone. This same low-density parameter will apply to private residential buildings, which will be located in the area between the highway and the Hospital del Sur.
Construction Licenses to Be Granted After 30-Year Wait
With the signing of this approval, the Arona City Council can now grant building licenses for El Mojón, nearly 30 years after the development process for “the new city of Los Cristianos” first began. A direct and positive impact for the municipality will be the opening of new streets, which is expected to significantly improve mobility in one of the most problematic areas of Arona’s road network.
Major Investment in Public Infrastructure and Amenities
Furthermore, the El Mojón Compensation Board and the City Council have signed an agreement for the free transfer of 332,900 square meters of land destined for public facilities. Key highlights of this transfer include: – 120,000 m² for roads, parking, and pedestrian areas. – 11,400 m² for educational centers. – 15,900 m² for public sports facilities. – 17,000 m² for cultural amenities. – Extensive green zones and recreational spaces to enhance residents’ quality of life.
These infrastructures will be managed directly by the council, guaranteeing a more orderly, sustainable, and modern model of urban development.
Leadership Hails a Decisive Step Forward
Arona’s mayor, Fátima Lemes Reverón, stated that “this partial approval is a decisive step that demonstrates this government’s capacity to meet its objectives. Arona will now have land for long-awaited public projects.” The Councillor for Urban Planning, Javier Baute, emphasized that this development “represents over three decades of work and will be capable of transforming the economy not only of Arona but also of Tenerife and the Archipelago.”
A Focus on Quality, Sustainable Tourism
Finally, Miguel Villarroya, president of the El Mojón Compensation Board, underscored that the project is not aimed at attracting mass tourism but rather a higher-value visitor. This approach is designed to generate a more robust economic impact without overburdening the local infrastructure.
The Long Road to a 2025 Transformation
Initially approved in 1996 with an urbanization project drafted in 1998, El Mojón remained stalled due to technical, legal, and management problems for over 30 years. The 2024 Urban Planning Agreement marked the turning point that led to the definitive approval of the urbanization works in 2025, after the deficiencies detected by municipal technicians were resolved.
A New Model for Sustainable Urban Planning
The transformation of El Mojón will be key to the urban reorganisation of Los Cristianos and its surroundings, promoting sustainable mobility, connectivity, and the creation of new service areas, green zones, and community spaces. The project will be carried out under environmental sustainability criteria, ensuring balanced growth that is respectful of its surroundings. With this, Arona establishes itself as a benchmark for urban planning and sustainable development in the Canary Islands.
