Dozens of residents in Guardamar del Segura took to the sea in protest last week, calling on Spain’s Coastal Authority to stop the demolition of the historic beachfront homes of Playa Babilonia, set to begin in September.
At around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, in a festive yet defiant atmosphere, neighbours gathered on the beach to participate in a symbolic swim, an act of protest sparked by a viral call on social media. Their goal: to urge the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and its Coastal Department to reconsider the planned destruction of nearly 60 century-old homes lining this stretch of shoreline just north of Guardamar’s town centre.
The swim concluded with applause and renewed hope that officials might still listen to the concessionaires, homeowners racing against the clock to save their properties. Many fear the swift pace of demolitions seen elsewhere, such as the surprise teardown of the Jaime and Miramar beach bars earlier this summer, could soon be repeated here.
This protest swim also marked the 100th daily dip for David Renner, a young resident of the neighbourhood and the initiator of the movement. Renner has been sharing his swims on Instagram and TikTok, using them to tell the personal and historical stories behind these homes, many of which have been in families for generations. The event was backed by the Babilonia Neighbourhood Association and widely shared on its social media pages.
With most homeowners already spending what they fear will be their final summer in these houses, the urgency is real. Although the Directorate General had initially planned to begin demolition before summer, a short reprieve was granted to allow residents time to coordinate the removal of their homes at their own expense, required by law to restore the area to its natural state.
A Personal Countdown, a Collective Fight
David Renner’s symbolic countdown began months ago, highlighting the looming demolition date and the broader injustice felt by residents. Their frustration stems from what they see as a double standard, where other properties in public coastal zones have received extensions without issue, theirs have not. This denial of extensions, they argue, is the only reason these demolitions are moving forward.
According to reports, most homeowners applied for renewal of their concessions back in 2018. With no official response, they turned to the courts to demand an answer. However, the National Court, relying on technical reports from the Ministry, rejected their requests, claiming the houses contribute to beach erosion. Residents dispute this, attributing the coastline’s deterioration to a lack of public investment in beach maintenance and to flawed infrastructure, like the breakwater built at the Segura River’s mouth in the 1990s, which they argue redirects vital sediment away from their beach.
Authorities say the demolitions are part of a broader regeneration plan to reconnect the beach with the inland dune and pine forest ecosystem, freeing up 600 metres of coastline for public use. For now, around 20 houses further south are safe, as they fall within the urban zone, though their concessions also remain unrenewed.
Last Legal Options and a Bid for Heritage Protection
Despite diminishing chances, the residents’ association continues to pursue legal options to halt the demolitions. One of their last hopes is to secure a Cultural Heritage (BIC) designation for the homes, which are built in the traditional Vega Baja style, with reed and wood roofs and masonry walls.
Such recognition could provide protection under a new article in the Valencian Coastal Law that allows for the preservation of historic coastal enclaves or compensation through relocation.
Although regional coastal jurisdiction remains limited, legal counsel for the group is preparing for all outcomes. If demolition is unavoidable, they aim to reach an agreement with the Ministry to allow residents to carry out the removals themselves, minimizing costs and avoiding intervention by the state-owned construction company Tragsa, which has been criticised for its lack of transparency in public tenders and the justification of project expenses.
Setting a Precedent
The sudden demolitions of the Jaime and Miramar beach bars in early June were a stark reminder of Costas’ willingness to act decisively. The Bar Jaime was still operating when the demolition order came through. Its owners have since filed a formal complaint against Costas, arguing that their concession was still valid and did not require renewal.
Residents of Playa Babilonia now wait, not just for a response, but for a sign that history, community, and fairness will be considered before the bulldozers arrive.
