A company of Chinese origin has launched plans to develop a 10,000 square metre commercial zone on Avenida de París in the La Rosaleda area of Torrevieja. The plot is currently classified under the town’s 1986 General Urban Development Plan as private cultural and educational land.

To allow retail use, the firm has begun the procedure to change the zoning to commercial. Earlier this month, the local government board confirmed that the proposal will be processed through a simplified strategic environmental assessment, alongside approval of an Interior Reform Plan. The final decision will rest with the council, unless the process requires regional oversight.

The land, owned by Xialoe Rent S.L., sits within a mainly residential sector covering 126,898 m2. Of that total, only 1,543 m2 is currently allocated for commercial use. The company argues this falls short of the 5,710 m2 minimum set out in the Valencian Community’s Sectoral Territorial Action Plan for Commerce, known as Patsecova.

If initial municipal reports are favourable, the plan will go out to public consultation before being submitted for final approval by the full council.