The urban planning department of La Orotava has raised concerns over unauthorised construction works in a 22,728 square metre area beneath the northern motorway of Tenerife, known as El Drago. The council filed a complaint on 13 August with the Canary Islands Government, alleging that various structures are underway without the necessary permits in a region marked for territorial protection under the current General Planning Regulation (PGO).
Local sources inform that suspected illegal activities have escalated over the past year, with images from Grafcan, the public agency responsible for monitoring, showing significant development since 2026.
Photographic evidence reveals up to ten buildings of varying sizes, some with dome-shaped roofs of glass, in an area that appeared poised for agricultural use. Despite inquiries, Narciso Pérez, the Urban Planning Councillor, declined comment. However, it has emerged that the developers aim to exploit much of the land agriculturally while lacking the required permissions for their constructions.
Concerned locals suggest there may be four additional structures being prepared, although they could also simply be temporary covers or pergolas. Under current regulations, this land is classified as rustic with territorial protection, meaning construction should not be permitted.
With the scale of the developments, there are fears that this situation could not only violate severe infractions but also constitute potential crimes against land management, carrying penalties of up to four years, along with possible demolitions and fines as outlined in Article 319 of the Penal Code.
