Former Málaga Post Office moves closer to becoming a luxury hotel

One of Málaga’s most prominent abandoned buildings is moving closer to a new chapter. The former Post Office building on Avenida de Andalucía is nearing the end of the planning process required for its conversion into a luxury hotel after remaining closed since 2010.

The City Council is working to complete the change of use from public facility to hotel, one of the key steps needed before the refurbishment can begin.

The aim is for the file to move forward through upcoming Urban Planning meetings, although further procedures will still be required before construction work can start.

From Post Office building to five-star hotel

The project proposes a complete change in the use of the property.

Planning documents envisage a high-end hotel, together with restaurants, meeting rooms, retail areas and parking.

The final category has not yet been confirmed.

The intention is for the property to reach at least five-star status, although the possibility of a five-star Grand Luxury classification has also been considered.

Between 178 and 200 rooms

The final number of rooms will depend on the design and on the hotel operator eventually chosen to run the property.

Current estimates point to between 178 and 200 rooms.

Earlier versions of the project proposed a minimum of 200 units, although later plans could reduce that figure in order to meet higher room-size and quality standards.

The future hotel brand will be one of the factors shaping the final layout.

The hotel operator has not yet been announced

The building is owned by Nitsba Spain, the company that acquired the property after it was auctioned by the Andalusian regional government.

The owner’s intention is to refurbish the building and then bring in a major hotel brand to operate it.

No operator has yet been publicly confirmed.

That decision will be significant because each international hotel group has its own minimum requirements in terms of room sizes, services and quality standards.

The building was sold for €23.5 million

The former Post Office stopped operating in 2010.

It later passed into the hands of the Andalusian regional government and was eventually sold to Nitsba Spain through a public auction.

The deal was worth approximately €23.5 million.

Since then, the recovery of the building has been tied to a complex planning process required to change its original use.

An investment estimated at around €90 million

The conversion project was initially valued at close to €90 million.

That figure includes refurbishment, expansion and the work required to bring the property up to luxury hotel standards.

The project also includes significant changes to the building’s external and internal appearance.

One of the ideas put forward is the removal of part of the distinctive façade screening in order to adapt the building to its new function.

More buildable space without increasing the overall volume

One of the most important planning changes is the increase in buildable floor area.

The total would rise from approximately 13,613 square metres to 17,480 square metres.

That represents an increase of around 3,867 square metres.

The proposal is based on using the building’s existing overall volume, meaning it does not necessarily involve constructing a taller tower.

The project is now limited to the former Post Office plot

The scope of the scheme has also changed compared with earlier proposals.

The initial planning document included other plots linked to the urban development process.

However, the current proposal limits the defined area to the site occupied by the former Post Office building itself, at number 1 Avenida de Andalucía.

The plot covers approximately 3,462 square metres.

Restaurants, retail and meeting spaces

The future complex would not be limited to accommodation.

The project includes several restaurants, meeting rooms and retail spaces aimed at the high-end market.

The intention is for the building to remain active throughout the day and become more closely integrated into the economic life of this part of Málaga.

Its location, next to Málaga Centro-Alameda commuter rail station and very close to the historic centre, is one of the project’s main advantages.

At least 150 jobs

Municipal forecasts suggest the new hotel could generate at least 150 jobs.

These would be in addition to positions associated with restaurants, retail and other services within the complex.

The project would also bring activity back to a building that has been closed for more than a decade and currently shows clear signs of external deterioration.

The surrounding area will also be upgraded

The planning operation is not limited to the interior of the former Post Office building.

The project includes improvements across approximately 11,791 square metres of public space nearby.

The investment planned for these works is around €1.6 million.

The goal is to improve pedestrian mobility, increase greenery and better integrate the future hotel with surrounding streets.

More trees and improved pedestrian routes

Planned works include replacing pavements and creating new pedestrian routes.

More trees, benches and street furniture are also included.

One of the key areas will be around the exit of the Málaga Centro-Alameda commuter rail station.

The aim is to create more comfortable waiting areas and a better pedestrian connection between the station, the hotel and central Málaga.

Changes to Plaza Enrique Navarro

The project also includes improvements to Plaza Enrique Navarro.

Some parts of the square will be reorganised to make walking routes easier.

Larger trees will be preserved, while some smaller plants may be relocated.

New children’s play areas and outdoor fitness facilities are also planned.

More greenery on Avenida de la Aurora

Avenida de la Aurora is another area included in the scheme.

The project proposes new tree lines and vegetation to improve the urban landscape.

It also aims to make school routes safer through better separation between green areas and the road.

The City Council’s intention is for the transformation of the building to have a wider positive effect on the surrounding area.

The City Council will receive a space inside the building

The increase in buildable floor area also creates planning obligations for the owner.

One of them is the transfer of approximately 362 square metres inside the building to Málaga City Council.

The transfer must be formalised before the major construction licence can be granted.

That space will then become part of the municipal property portfolio.

More than €1.5 million linked to the additional development rights

The owner will also have to compensate the City Council financially for the increase in development rights.

The amount has been valued at approximately €1.51 million.

This sum must also be paid before the final construction permit can be issued.

These requirements form part of the planning process linked to the change of use.

The change of use does not mean work will begin immediately

Although the planning process is well advanced, several stages still remain.

Approval of the planning study will consolidate the change of use.

After that, procedures linked to the architectural project and the corresponding construction licence will still be required.

There is therefore no official date yet for the start of work or for the hotel’s opening.

One of the major unfinished projects in central Málaga

The recovery of the former Post Office building is especially significant because of its location.

The property stands at one of the main entrances to the historic centre, close to the Guadalmedina and opposite the tax office.

After more than a decade of abandonment, it has become one of Málaga’s most prominent pending redevelopment projects.

If the scheme moves ahead, the future hotel will transform one of Avenida de Andalucía’s most recognisable buildings and add another major property to Málaga’s growing luxury accommodation market.