Abu Group announces 250 million for the residential development of the old Meliá site on Carlota Alessandri Avenue in Torremolinos.

The Seville-based developer Grupo Abu announces its intention to undertake in Torremolinos "the largest development in the country at the moment in terms of business volume."

The project, which involves an investment of 250 million euros, revolves around the residential use of the enormous plot on Carlota Alessandri Avenue that once housed the Meliá Tres Carabelas hotel. This highly coveted land, a short walk from La Carihuela and Puerto Marina in Benalmádena, is planned for 353 homes.

There are 40,000 square meters of buildable area on a plot of 12,688. Grupo Abu, which has initiated the administrative process for the construction, confirms that the basic project for this operation is already ready.

Administrative Phase

Municipal sources detail that the land planning study is in its final phase, prior to definitive approval by the council, after having favorably issued both external and internal sectoral reports.

At the same time, the process for the corresponding construction license has been activated, which can be completed once the final approval of the previous step occurs, as this constitutes the necessary procedure that enables the increase in buildability and the change of land classification from hotel to residential.

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The initial approval of the land planning study, a document that came out of the Factor-ia Arquitectura office, took place in the Local Government Board in September and was published in the Official Bulletin of the Province of Málaga on October 27, 2025, for public display.

Simultaneously, sectoral reports were requested, as indicated by the municipality, whose favorable issuance facilitates definitive approval.

This step came almost a year after the Board's approval of the investment, based on the change of use, which in turn was part of the agreement for the construction of housing in this area of the urban center, which received the support of the Municipal Corporation in 2023.

According to this agreement, there will be significant financial compensation for the city's coffers, which will receive 15 percent of the profits generated, five points above the minimum required by law.

Grupo Abu's plans are to build a residential complex, named Magna, which will be organized in various medium-rise buildings "harmonically integrated into their surroundings"

With this progress and the commercial announcement of the promotion, the land that has been abandoned since 2009 is closer to being utilized again, where only an incipient structure remains, the result of an attempt to build a five-star hotel, with 22 floors and even a helipad, which was to be called Cruiser.

The Andalusian Regional Government had reservations about the establishment, and these concerns forced a modification of the original architectural plans; when the accommodation finally received approval, the investors of that idea could not afford the necessary expense and the works were halted.

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Grupo Abu's plans include building a residential complex, named Magna, which will be organized in various medium-rise buildings "harmonically integrated into their surroundings"; "contemporary and functional lines," they maintain, with a priority for common spaces such as swimming pools and garden areas and a commitment to innovative materials and solutions aimed at energy efficiency.

Projects in Málaga

The group announced its intentions in Torremolinos during an event where it made public real estate launches valued at 600 million euros for more than 750 units across the country. Regarding projects in development or under construction, this firm's volume exceeds 1.400 million, with about 2,000 homes in progress; figures associated with more than 4,000 jobs between direct and indirect employment.

In addition to Torremolinos, Abu is promoting Las Esclavas, in Málaga capital, a project entrusted to the L35 architecture studio, which is responsible for the remodeling of the Santiago Bernabéu, the Rome Termini station, and significant developments in Sotogrande, with commissions throughout Europe, Latin America, and Abu Dhabi. Similarly, in El Higuerón, between Benalmádena and Fuengirola, the group is behind 25 townhouse units of various types distributed in five construction groups at different levels, called Organic, with the U8 studio's seal.