Archidona town council in northern Malaga province has issued a municipal notice clearly prohibiting the installation of solar panels in the historic core and its immediate surrounds. The step was implemented following a significant spike in licensing applications in recent months. According to the local government team, the proliferation of installations threatens to change the image of the ancient town, and hence its worth.
The Mayor-signed paper notes that the decision is based on a unanimous agreement reached by the urban planning and environment departments on September 15th. At that meeting, the municipal authorities discussed the impact of the solar panels and concluded that such installations cause visual and perceptual pollution, which is incompatible with the preservation of a valued location.
The text states that this impacts both the direct view from the public road and the view from surrounding buildings and elevation places that provide a panoramic view of the municipality. In all situations, the presence of solar panels is deemed a threat to the town’s architectural integrity.
In compliance with local urban planning regulations and regional heritage preservation legislation, the town hall emphasises that solar panel installation is not authorised in Archidona’s historic core or surroundings. The goal is to increase legal certainty and prevent new applications from being submitted that, by definition, cannot be approved.
Panels installed without a licence
The bylaw not only prohibits future installations, but it also applies to current installations. Solar panels placed without a licence must be removed by November 15, 2025. If this deadline is not met, the town hall will commence the appropriate sanctioning and restitution of urban planning legality proceedings, which may include economic and disciplinary penalties.
The warning is addressed to the historic center’s owners, tenants, and citizens. According to the town hall, the act is solely intended to maintain Archidona’s urban and heritage identity.
Author: Derek Appleton
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