Residents accuse developer of occupying public space; demand answers from City Hall
A growing dispute has erupted in Orihuela Costa over a partially flood-prone plot where a developer plans to build 64 homes—nearly triple the 24 originally approved. The project, located in the Dehesa de Campoamor area and just meters from the Nacimiento riverbed, lies in a flood-risk zone that was severely affected by the 2019 DANA storm.
Local residents, organized under the association Costa Campoamor, accuse the developer of illegally fencing off parts of public land and blocking roads. Heavy machinery began clearing the 1.8-hectare plot last April, sparking outrage among neighbors. Shortly afterward, in early May, the site was enclosed by fencing that residents say extends into the public roadway. Complaints filed with the Local Police and raised in council meetings have gone unanswered for five months.
Two traffic signs—a speed limit and a pedestrian crossing—now sit inside the fenced area on Rosa Montero Street, visibly marking the encroachment. Locals warn that the obstruction limits driver visibility and endangers pedestrians. They also report that certain access roads have been closed, restricting passage for residents.
The neighborhood group has formally demanded answers in this month’s municipal plenary session. The association addressed its petition directly to Mayor Pepe Vegara, bypassing Urban Planning Councillor Matías Ruiz, who previously worked for the same developer as a civil engineer before joining the council.
Vegara previously stated that the fenced area was part of “cleaning operations” requested by the City Hall, and that enclosing the land was permitted under municipal ordinances—provided no public space is occupied. However, eight days later, city workers who came to remove the traffic signs confirmed that public land had indeed been encroached upon but left the signs in place.
Environmental groups including Amigos de Sierra Escalona and Amigos de los Humedales del Sur de Alicante have also objected to the project. The site falls within the Sierra Escalona and Dehesa de Campoamor Site of Community Importance (LIC), part of the EU’s Natura 2000 network, home to several protected species.
Critics warn that torrential rains could flood the proposed homes and surrounding properties, blocking the natural flow of water to the sea just 600 meters away. Despite reassurances from the city that the area is outside the official 500-year floodplain, residents remain unconvinced, demanding clarity on both the public land occupation and the environmental risks.
