Another brick on the wall (Gran Scala still alive)

Published: 10 November, 2009

The visible face of the Gran Scala in Spain - the Scottish executive Mark Campbell, has temporarily left his role as Director of Communications in the ILD partnership in Spain to take on other professional challenges in the United States. This does not mean the project is taking a step back, quite the opposite in fact. ILD wanted to demonstrate in October that the Gran Scala project is still going ahead. And it did this by completing the second phase of the purchase options that it had signed to acquire another 1,012 hectares of land. Although this happened scarcely two hours before the deadline, Paul Allegrini, managing partner, gave cheques to the 68 property owners who were waiting patiently in the Ontiñena social club.

Each owner received another 4% of the agreed price. Altogether, ILD paid out 320,000 euros, the same amount as on 10th February. The promoters of the leisure and gaming complex have a new period of 8 months, and then in the following period they will have to pay the remaining balance of the full purchase price. The formalization of the purchase of another 300 privately owned hectares that are still required is pending, according to ILD, and will take place following a study to determine the final extent of the park (between 2,800 and 3,200 hectares). The acquisition process continues to be "complicated" because of the difficulties of the neighbours in proving ownership. Paul Allegrini gave his assurance that the group of companies that forms the partnership is continuing to work on the presentation of the documentation, and as required by the Law governing High Capacity Leisure Centres which came into effect in July, he anticipates that the process will be completed at the end of this year or during the first month of 2010. "We are hoping to present it before we have to make the third stage payment", he said. One of the requirements is to carry out a study of the environmental impact. In addition, it is necessary to prove the creation of a minimum number of jobs, hectares or hotel beds. The ILD managing partner recalled that the process is determined by the timescales set by the law. "We are going to complete it as rapidly as possible and how soon will depend on receiving the Government's authorization", but "this is not like building a house, this is a huge project where there is a lot to be done".

Printer friendly version

Email this article to a friend

Bookmark this