The future Serra law will allow for the regularization of illegal buildings

PalmThe law concerning the Tramuntana mountain range also has an urban planning aspect. The legislation being prepared by the People's Party (PP), which already has the support of Vox, will allow the legalization of irregular constructions in this emblematic area. The proposed law, which will reach Parliament in the next session, includes a series of articles that will regulate the procedures for illegal dwellings to benefit from a kind of amnesty, since they were unable to take advantage of the one already approved by the PP and Vox in the Chamber.

The Tramuntana mountain range has significant protected status, and the set of urban planning regulations—primarily the Balearic Islands Urban Planning Law (LUIB)—makes it very difficult for these irregular buildings to benefit from the measures approved to date. According to knowledgeable sources consulted by ARA Baleares, "many porches in the Sóller valley have no chance of becoming legal. This means that, under current regulations, they cannot even apply for a permit to repair their roofs. There is considerable political interest in resolving this," they point out.

The future law for the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range, which the president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés, had been trying to negotiate with Vox for months, comes amid great anticipation, which the Consell's majority party is well aware of: to make it easier for owners of small, irregular constructions to regularize their administrative status. In any case, another source clarifies that "nothing new can be built that doesn't already exist."

On the contrary, the most critical voices, such as the GOB (Balearic Ornithological Group), have warned that the current urban development situation in the Serra de Tramuntana departs from the initial spirit of strengthening the protection of the cultural landscape – recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011. They believe that the incorporation of measures that open the door to the legalization of the legalization of a highly protected area fits with the strategy promoted by the PP-Vox pact in the Catalan Parliament.

Construction in ANEI (Area of Natural Interest)

One of the most controversial points will be the regularization of buildings in Areas of Special Natural Interest (ANEI), very large areas of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. Until now, urban planning regulations—reinforced by the designation of picturesque landscapes and the restrictions of the Law on Natural Spaces—did not allow the legalization of these buildings, not even for basic works such as roof and wall repairs. This situation has left thousands of houses in a state of technical and legal vulnerability. In a recent parliamentary address, the Minister and spokesperson for the Balearic Government, Antoni Costa, pointed out that this scenario generated "injustices" for owners who have lived with these buildings for decades. Costa stressed that it is not a matter of "building even an inch more," but of legalizing irregular dwellings with expired violations, equating the treatment of the Serra de Tramuntana with that of other areas of Mallorca in terms of urban planning statute of limitations criteria.

Environmentalists' fear of deregulation

But environmental groups are wary, as they have expressed following the various regulations recently passed by the Balearic Parliament. GOB Mallorca and the Estellencs Landscape Defense Association have filed formal complaints with ICOMOS, UNESCO's advisory body, warning that the regulatory reforms and the urban planning amnesty approved in recent months have led to a progressive lack of protection for the Serra de Tramuntana and jeopardize its universal values. According to these organizations, the combination of the Law on Administrative Simplification, the repeal of the statute of limitations for urban planning violations, and the amnesty for illegal construction constitute "urban planning deregulation that could accelerate speculative pressure and the over-tourism of the area," going beyond simply regulating it. In their view, the new regulations could end up consolidating practices that weaken the landscape and cultural integrity of the Serra de Tramuntana.

Against irregular racing

The legislation envisions the creation of various commissions to address the main problems, one of which will be mobility and its related issues. In this regard, knowledgeable sources confirm that not only will a comprehensive regulatory framework be established, but a working group will also be created, incorporating all the relevant administrations, including the Civil Guard, to bring order to an issue where significant progress has thus far been lacking. Another aspect addressed in the proposed law is the fight against illegal street racing. For decades, this phenomenon has persisted without any administration being able to effectively combat it. On weekends, primarily high-powered motorcycles travel at high speeds, prompting repeated complaints from neighborhood associations and mayors. The legislation also foresees the creation of commissions to address the main problems in the Serra de Tramuntana region, one of which will be mobility. In this regard, knowledgeable sources indicate that not only will a specific regulatory framework be established, but a working group will also be created with all the administrations involved, including the Civil Guard, to bring order to an issue in which no significant progress has been made so far.