Even if the solar plant has been green-lit by the regional authorities, its construction is causing a lot of distress for the residents in the Fonde da Apra area of Loule. They’re concerned about the fact that their properties have plummeted in value because of the plant and have vowed to take their case to Brussels if the project is not stopped.

For a bit of background, several studies into the compatibility of the plant with various aspects of Loule’s projected development have shown it to be lacking. An evaluation carried out by the Algarve Committee for Regional Development and Coordination which showed that the project “encroaches on a Site of Community Importance”; an environmental impact study carried out by the Cascais-based project consultancy company Matos, Fonseca & Associates, found that the land the plant will be built on was found to be home to fauna of “conservational interest” even if the land is not covered by the “Special Protection Zone” status. The survey did conclude that the overall impact would be minimal and ‘insignificant’ and would also occur mainly during the construction phase, saying that the impact on the landscape would be of “little significance and reduced magnitude”.

That conclusion is vehemently contested by the frustrated locals who are not fond of the idea of a solar power plant being built next to their homes.

One British couple said that they acquired their property on a hillside directly overlooking the plant because they like the view, and now that view is being wiped out.

That appears to be the main concern of most the inhabitants, saying that while they understand the importance of renewable energy and that they have nothing against the solar plants, but they just don’t like the fact that the plants are being built in full view of the villas and in a residential area.

We’ll keep an eye on this story and see how it unfolds.

Quinta da Ombria

The Finnish Ponto Group is prepping a major development for the rural are of Querenca called the Quinta da Ombria Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort.

The project is now in the development phase and at the current time the master plan will see it include a luxury hotel and spa, 400 villas and apartments as well as an 18-hole golf course. The project for this new development has been no less than two decades in the making, but now it is lead by Helder Martins, the PSD candidate for the Loule Camara presidency. The total investment reaches 200 million Euros and the project has just received the building licenses but work has not yet started. The large span of time that it has spent in development have seen it suffer several modification because of environmental setbacks, namely from various environmental and conservation groups that made a complaint to the European Commission.

Estimates show that the development will create three hundred jobs.

Vale do Freixo

The Vale do Freixo Golf & Country Estate will also be located in a predominantly rural area, this time in Benafim.

The estate is estimated to host 1,722 toursit beds, most or all of which being destined for the high end consumer. The development represent an investment close to two hundred million Euros and will include a hotel with spa, contress centre, sport and leisure areas and will employ almost eitht thousand people during the construction phase, and around a thousand jobs once the job is completed and business is underway.

The project is developed by a consortium company called United Investments Portugal or UIP. They are made up of the IFA Hotels & Resorts international group which has also developed the luxury Sheraton Pine Cliffs Resort.

This project however is still more than a year till a draft is ready and then it will have to be submitted for an environmental impact assessment.