Irish homes in Spain may face the wrecking ball

FEARS persisted yesterday that thousands of Irish-owned homes in Spain could face demolition despite reassurances from property advisers.

The Spanish government this week reiterated proposals to clear illegal developments from a 800km stretch of coastline.

Property owners face having their homes bulldozed because of planning hitches. It will cost them €5 billion to combat the overdevelopment on the coastline. Madrid hopes that by pulling down homes, chalets and hotels built too close to the coast, it could slow down intense overcrowding and reclaim Spain’s beaches.