Thousands of 'illegal' Brits' homes in Spain facing demolition

The Socialist government is targetting nearly 500 miles of the country's coastline in popular expat areas including the Canary Islands and Costa del Sol.

Environment ministers behind the plan insisted they intend to negotiate compensation packages as part of what they deem a "carrot over stick" approach.

But they refused to guarantee that bulldozers would not move in if talks with regional governments and town halls failed.

Ministers have set their sights on homes and hotels built illegally on beaches and 350 feet of land behind them.

They plan to target 482 miles of Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline - in areas including the Balearic Islands, the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Sol, Cadiz and the Canaries.

Spain's Socialist government believe the plan is key to attracting more upmarket tourists and helping its shed its image as a cheap sex, sun and sand holiday destination.

The move is expected to affect thousands of Brits who have emigrated or bought second homes in the sunshine areas ministers want to rid of concrete and return to public use.

Actor Antonio Banderas' luxury home near Marbella, which extends to within just a few feet of the high tide mark, could also be at risk.

Spain's Environment Minister Cristina Narbona is set to announce the new strategy on Wednesday. Spokesman Antonio Serrano said: "We plan to negotiate, not go directly to expropriation.

"Without the agreement of the regions and town halls it will not be possible to carry out this plan.

"But we have to convince the local authorities that although we upset some people by getting rid of some houses, a lot more people gain out of it and that of course increases quality tourism."

The Spanish government intends pumping 3.5 billion pounds into the strategy. They want town halls to use part of the money to offer affected homeowners cash compensation and cheap land to build new homes on away from the coast.

Many beachfront homes went up before Spain's strict law governing building near the coast was passed 19 years ago - and have been allowed to remain as part of concessions that begin to run out in ten years' time.

Parts of the coastline fell outside the scope of the 1988 law - and other homes and hotels were built illegally after it was passed with the connivance of corrupt local officials.

More than 600 miles of Spain's 5,000 miles of front-line coastline are now built on or being built on.

Virgin beaches unspoilt by concrete are now a rarity in many parts of a country where small fishing villages have been swallowed up by mass holiday resorts since tourism took off in Spain in the 1970s.

Spain is facing increasing competition from cheaper sunshine destinations like Turkey and Croatia.

British homeowners are already fighting the threat of demolition in areas such as Marbella and Catral near Benidorm where central government has decided to get tough with local authorities who have allowed building on green belt land.

Craig Holden, of estate agents Rawlins & Holden based in Lliria near Valencia, said: "A lot of British homeowners who own properties in the affected areas will be concerned."