Marbella plans new Río Real neighbourhood with 428 homes and almost 200,000 square metres of green space

Marbella is continuing to shape its expansion towards the east. The Golf Río Real Phase 2 sector has taken another administrative step forward following the initial approval of its land readjustment project and the opening of the corresponding public consultation period.

The site covers approximately 472,591 square metres and proposes the creation of a new residential area with 428 homes, large green spaces and a range of public facilities.

This does not mean construction of the homes will begin immediately. The land readjustment process is one of the necessary planning stages used to reorganise plots, distribute development rights and responsibilities, and prepare the land for future construction.

428 new homes planned in Río Real

The development provides for a total buildable area of around 68,539 square metres.

The 428 homes would be divided between 41 detached houses and 387 apartments or multi-family properties, creating a neighbourhood with different residential formats.

The scheme also includes space for commercial activity, with a plot offering approximately 1,247 square metres of buildable floor area.

The site is located in Río Real, one of the areas east of central Marbella, close to established residential developments, the golf course and the coast.

Almost 200,000 square metres of public green space

One of the most significant aspects of the project is not the housing itself, but the amount of land that would become public space.

The plan includes more than 250,000 square metres of land to be transferred free of charge to Marbella Town Hall.

Of that total, around 197,713 square metres would be dedicated to public green areas, making landscaping and open space one of the largest components of the development.

A further 38,900 square metres is expected to be used for new public roads, alongside land reserved for technical infrastructure.

The layout is intended to ensure that the project develops as more than simply a housing estate, with public spaces and essential infrastructure incorporated into the wider neighbourhood.

Land reserved for education, sport and social facilities

The future neighbourhood will also include around 13,587 square metres for public facilities.

The plans reserve just over 6,000 square metres for educational use, potentially allowing future school facilities to be developed.

Another approximately 3,009 square metres is designated for sports facilities, while around 1,416 square metres would be allocated for social or community uses.

Additional land is also reserved for infrastructure related to water supply.

The aim is for residential growth to be accompanied by local services rather than creating an area dependent entirely on facilities elsewhere in Marbella.

More than €22 million to develop the infrastructure

Preparing the site will require substantial investment.

The current file estimates the cost of urban development works and management at approximately €22.14 million.

This figure covers much more than road construction. It includes internal utility networks, external connections, environmental measures, waste management, safety requirements, technical work, fees and registration procedures, among other costs.

The development will also require essential infrastructure for water supply, sewage, drainage, electricity and telecommunications.

This phase will effectively transform the existing land into fully serviced plots ready for the buildings planned at a later stage.

Marbella Town Hall could receive €12.49 million

The land readjustment project also includes a significant financial operation involving the local authority.

Instead of transferring land corresponding to the municipality’s 10% share of average development rights, the current proposal would replace that obligation with a financial payment.

The amount has been calculated at approximately €12.49 million.

It is important to note that this figure is currently part of the planning file and does not mean the Town Hall has already received the money.

The project still has planning stages to complete

Although Golf Río Real Phase 2 is moving forward, it is not yet a neighbourhood under construction.

Marbella’s Local Government Board has initially approved the land readjustment project and the file is now undergoing public consultation, allowing landowners and interested parties to review the documentation and submit objections or comments.

These will have to be considered before the process can move towards final approval.

At the same time, Marbella Town Hall is also processing the urban development project for sector URP-RR-5, covering the roads, utility networks, green spaces and other infrastructure required to bring the area into use.

Río Real gains importance in Marbella’s eastern expansion

The project forms part of a wider planning process increasingly focused on areas east of Marbella.

The challenge will be to integrate new residential zones with existing neighbourhoods while ensuring that additional homes are accompanied by adequate roads, connections, parking, green areas and public services.

In the case of Río Real Phase 2, the scale of the public land allocations is particularly significant, with almost 200,000 square metres of green space alongside education, sports and social facilities.

If all remaining planning stages are completed, Marbella would gain a major new residential district combining 428 homes, commercial space, public facilities and extensive open areas, gradually changing the urban landscape of the eastern side of the city.

The initial approval, technical documentation and public consultation period can be reviewed in the official file for the URP-RR-5 “Golf Río Real Phase 2” land readjustment project published by Marbella Town Hall.