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| “I feel privileged to be working with the local authorities in Spain on such a wonderful project; we are building timber lodges in a forest – you don’t get much greener than that”; the words of Alex Joll who is the manager of Atlantic Parks and leads his team in developing their brand of eco-friendly tourism in a country know more for concrete apartment blocks. |
Atlantic Parks is developing Home Parks similar to those seen in the UK and France but they are doing it in a more sustainable way. Their timber lodges are 100% ecological and built of ethically sourced timber from European forests. The company’s ethos is green right down to the promise not to cut down any of the trees of the forest that they are developing in. Instead they are working with the natural landscape and the result is staggering beauty.
Alex Joll has been working with the local town hall for many years and throughout the long process he has had the local authorities and the mayor, Rafael Quiros (of the PSOE), 100% behind the project. It’s not surprising as it is bringing employment and investment to the region which has one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.
The Costa de la Luz is not so well known as its neighbour the Costa del Sol and that’s not a bad thing. The two coasts are vastly different even though they adjoin and share similar weather. The Coast of Light (Luz) is on the Atlantic side at the very bottom of Spain and is less developed and more rural. Little hill top white villages are the norm and the pace of life is relaxed; that’s not surprising with the huge golden beaches always so near by.
Atlantic Parks has plans to continue their strategy and develop other similar sites in the area and they have already secured a second piece of land and the permits needed. Despite the recession they continue to prosper and Alex said “We have something that people want; they want beautiful countryside and a sustainable development and we are offering timber lodges in secure surroundings at half the price of apartments in the towns.”
Where traditional developers struggle Atlantic Parks hopes to buck the trend and continue to grow its green shoots. Not only is their timber is sourced from sustainable and managed forests in Europe but they also recycle their water for use in the gardens they offer solar and wind power to their home owners in order to keep the bills down and save the ecology.
When you add all of that into the fact that they are in one of the most beautiful areas of Spain and within 10 minutes of the beach they may be onto something. Their residents certainly think so and they enthuse about the place openly to all the people who visit. Just because they are green does not mean residents go without; SKY satellite is available as is high speed internet. The swimming pool is heated by using heat pumps that recycle energy so even winter swimming does not cost the earth.
It is companies like Atlantic Parks that are the future of tourism and sustainable development. We are already seeing this type of development in the UK and it is only a matter of time before it is repeated all over Europe. People now are more discerning and care about the impact of where they spend their money and the consequences; Atlantic Parks give them the confidence to enjoy their time in the sun guilt free.
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