Marbella Approves €12 Million Expansion of La Cañada Shopping Centre
By Mas Property
on Tue Sep 02 2025
Marbella town hall has given the green light to a long-awaited expansion of La Cañada shopping centre, the largest retail complex in Malaga province. After more than a decade of urban planning disputes, the council’s ruling executive has approved a building licence that paves the way for an additional 20,000 square metres of retail space, representing an investment of 12 million euros.
The project will increase the centre’s commercial footprint from 100,000 to 120,000 square metres. According to municipal spokesperson Félix Romero, the permit will generate €500,000 in tax revenue for the town. He highlighted that the initiative will not only boost Marbella’s retail offering but also reinforce its position as a regional commercial hub.
The extension will be located in the area adjacent to the FNAC entrance, though a specific start date for construction has not yet been announced. Just two weeks earlier, the council had already approved plans to increase parking capacity with a new underground car park.
Mayor Ángeles Muñoz stressed that the approval process followed “all legal and technical parameters” and was rigorously reviewed by municipal experts to avoid any irregularities.
La Cañada, now a landmark destination with three decades of history, has faced years of urban planning challenges. Built in phases during the Gil era, parts of the complex were originally constructed outside planning regulations, sparking ongoing disputes over its legal status.
In 2019, controversy erupted when plans for a Primark expansion were blocked by town hall, citing conflicts with the 2010 general urban development plan (PGOU). Despite the shopping centre beginning works, the project was halted, fines were imposed, and the courts ultimately ruled in favour of the council.
A turning point came with a modification of the 1986 PGOU, which allowed for increases in built surface area without altering a building’s external configuration. This regulatory change opened the door for the current extension, bringing La Cañada’s long quest for regularisation closer to resolution.
With the new PGOM and POU planning documents set to govern urban development in Marbella in the near future, La Cañada’s expansion marks a milestone for both the shopping centre and the municipality. Beyond strengthening Marbella’s retail landscape, the project is expected to attract new brands, generate significant economic activity, and create hundreds of jobs.
After years of legal hurdles, the long-delayed expansion of La Cañada is finally moving forward—promising to reshape the commercial map of the Costa del Sol.
Source: Sur In English, August 2025