New Holiday Village

[Tommie]

There was a piece in the Guardian Travel section yesterday regarding a new holiday village which is to open soon in the north of the island. Owned by Pierre & Vacances who own Center Parcs in the UK it looks to be a huge development. Called Origo Mare resort it has some 11 swimming pools, 6 restaurants plus a giant waterpark and more than 40 sports and activities. Accomodation ranges from a two person studio to a split level house for seven people. Self catering it is currently showing the two person studio for rent at £330 for a week in June.

[fuertesol]

This is just before the small village of Majanicho 5 miles from Lajares.IT is quite isolated and only suitable for those who want all their entertainment on site.MIght suit some but LAjares is best with its vibrant social life and choice of eateries.MAjanicho has none of these things.

[PremierBluebird]

This is the controversial development that was put on hold due to dodgy planning permission being granted by a dodgy politician. Had a drive around there last month, like a ghost town

[bluefox]

and a real shame pb, it's a beutiful lookin development, and big, i spotted from the air a yr or so ago when flyin home, so when i got bag went for a spin and found it, there were for sale sign's still up, but the office closed, the house's look really big & luxurious, but we could'nt get all the way in to have a proper look, but like you say abit out the way. 

[Ivemovedon]

Last i heard those that bought there are unable to sell as they were illegally built. Not rentable for the same reason , but thats no different to virtually everyone who wants to rent at the moment. Don't know if anythings changed but we've been popping down there regularly for a look for many years and nothings changed. In fact it looks worse, like a ghost town. I feel sorry for anyone who bought there as i can't see any of the promised infrastructure appearing any time soon if at all.

[PHo]

The developers are in trouble with the Ayuntamiento again for starting to build a water park outside the terms of their planning consents. The saga continues, but as others have said, it doesn't look like anywhere you would want to go on holiday to at the moment.

[bluefox]

it just amaze's me the number of development's on this island alone, built, completed, then get told they were built without permission and regs, all standing empty, until they start to deteriate, 100's of million's of E's, and we wonder why spain is broke, what was the bank's thinking of, and the authorities, blame it all on the "recession" ?

[PHo]

It was happening long before the recession, bluefox, and only some are the result of planning difficulties - Cotillo lagoons being the prime example.
What often happened was that someone bought some land with a bank loan, and borrowed more to develop it, based on a financially sound plan.  Then something went wrong or costs escalated, and the developer walked away, leaving the bank with the part completed development, valued in its books at the amount of the loan.
That left the bank with two choices -
1 - sell the site at a giveaway price and report a huge loss to its shareholders, or
2 - do nothing. Leave the asset in the books, don't revalue it and let it deteriorate, and so don't show any loss in the accounts.
No brainer, as they say.

[bygcotillo]

You may find this YouTube film interesting.Origo Mare

[Elite of the forum]

very interesting .haven't been up there for a bit,last time there was still security stopping you from going on,i presume these have now left?

[duncolm]

When I looked last November the security gate at the entrance had been abandoned. There is a barrier further in stopping cars getting into the main area of the village. It looked like there was a little work going on.

[peejay]

Looks like they have got it finished, though some of the images look a bit CGI to me, so maybe you won't have a choice of 11 swimming pools!

http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/pierre-amp-vacances-village-club-origo-mare.en-gb.html#HotelFacilities

[falkirkdan]

Went and had a look year past Sept and the bar was open but hardly anyone about.

Looked web site at availability for March and came up fully booked then tried June and gave lots of availability.  So is it opening???   Some lovely photoshop pictures.

[bedouin]

Looked web site at availability for March and came up fully booked then tried June and gave lots of availability.  So is it opening???   

Think it's opening in May, hence what you found on the website.

[Ivemovedon]

Photos look a bit suspect to me.  If this gets off the ground someone will have produced a miracle. Certainly its an ideal location for naturism and all inclusive. Can't help feeling someone may have wasted a bit more money though.

[falkirkdan]

And think of all the extra traffic passing your door Steve

[Ivemovedon]

and the extra traffic police to go with them Dan.