A Spanish court has ruled that the demolition of a British couple’s Spanish home over supposed building irregularities was illegal. The home of Len and Helen Prior, who had retired to southern Spain from Berkshire several years ago, was demolished by authorities who were concerned with widespread planning law violations. The Priors insisted they had the correct planning permission issued by the town hall in Vera, Almeria province.
Spain’s Constitutional Court ruled recently in favor of the Priors and said that the demolition had been carried out illegally. It ruled that the Priors had not been made aware of a crucial court case in which the building’s fate was decided. The couple now plans to use the ruling to support their claim for compensation.
The Priors are demanding compensation and are planning to sue the Ministry of Justice and the regional Andalusian government that issued the demolition order. The order claimed that the property was built on protected land. This court case is reverberating throughout the expat community in Spain, where hundreds of homes have been declared illegal along the Mediterranean coastline.
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