Spain's 'illegal' eyesore hotel may be approved

A half-built 'eyesore' hotel on one of Spain's unspoilt beaches could be completed after the Andalucian Supreme Court ruled the Algarrobico Hotel was constructed using a legal permit, overturning previous rulings that deemed it illegal.

Construction on the 21-storey hotel in Almeria ceased in 2006 because it was built on a nature reserve, Olive Press reports.

Greenpeace have campaigned to have the hotel demolished and are now outraged by the Supreme Court's decision.

A spokesman told the Daily Telegraph: "This monstrosity is the symbol of the destruction of our coasts. It is a clear example of the free-for-all that has destroyed our coastline, where norms of environmental protection were torn up in favour of big speculative interests."

Last year, it was reported that a millionaire who owns a pirate island on his family's Cambridgeshire estate could be forced to tear it down as he did not apply for planning permission.

South Cambridgeshire District Council said James Challis's 60-acre Challis Island had no planning permission.

Mr Challis's family launched a retrospective planning application in a bid to preserve the island at Landbeach.

South Cambridgeshire district council said: "We always encourage residents and businesses to contact us before carrying out any development so we can give them advice and help them consider what planning permissions will be needed. Avoiding retrospective planning applications often means the whole process is quicker and cheaper for the applicant."

Challis Island comes complete with a mock pub, day chalet and sun deck.

The site was originally bought by the late John Dickerson, who ran numerous successful businesses in Cambridgeshire.