Portugal: 18,434 m² of farmland authorised for a hotel
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Jornal F8
The Portuguese government of Luís Montenegro has authorised the use of 18,434 square metres of the National Agricultural Reserve for a rural hotel in Resende, in northern Portugal, a project linked to businessman Carlos Alves, close to Luís Nunes, governor of Luanda. According to the newspaper Folha 8, the authorisation was published on 6 November, despite the regime that in principle prohibits this change of use.
The Portuguese government has authorised the use of 18,434 square metres of soil from the National Agricultural Reserve (RAN) for a four-star rural hotel on the Quinta de Rendufe, in Resende, according to Página Um. The despacho, signed on 3 November by Secretary of State for Tourism Pedro Machado and by João Moura on behalf of Agriculture, was published on Friday 6 November. It recognises a relevant public interest in the project.
The project, led by businessman Carlos Alberto Loureiro Alves, provides for 64 rooms, 127 beds, an investment of six to ten million euros and 25 to 30 jobs. The soil concerned is classified as Class B by CCDR-Norte, the Northern regional coordination commission, which recognises its strong agricultural potential. Carlos Alves is linked to Luís Nunes, current governor of Luanda, through the construction company Omatapalo, which he chaired from 2018, according to Página Um.
The authorisation covers 21.9% of the property’s 84,347 square metres. The project received favourable opinions from Turismo de Portugal and the National Agricultural Reserve Entity, as well as recognition of public interest from the municipality. In 2014, the government had already authorised non-agricultural use of 40,214 square metres at Alfeizerão, in Caldas da Rainha, for an equestrian centre with a rural hotel. Página Um has requested explanations from the DGADR and CCDR-Norte regarding these opinions.
