New Marbella Residential District Moves Forward with 156 Detached Homes Near La Cañada
A sizeable new residential district planned for northern Marbella has moved forward through the municipal planning process, opening the way for 156 new detached homes close to La Cañada.
The project covers the URP-MB-2 “Tenis de Marbella” sector, situated north of the AP-7, close to the historic Trapiche del Prado and west of La Cañada shopping centre.
The site extends across approximately 105,767 square metres, making it a meaningful addition to Marbella’s future residential pipeline. Al Sol de la Costa
Marbella Town Hall’s official planning portal confirms that the consolidated urbanisation project was admitted for processing, with the municipal documentation published during September 2026. Marbella Public Information Portal
It is an interesting development for Marbella for another reason.
Rather than another high-density apartment scheme, the proposal is centred overwhelmingly on detached single-family homes.
156 new villas planned for Marbella
The scheme is being progressed by Cordia Marbella Project Company, associated with European residential developer Cordia.
Plans envisage 156 new detached homes, alongside one existing privately owned home on a separate approximately 4,000 m² plot. Al Sol de la Costa
The residential buildable area exceeds 22,000 m².
No apartment blocks are proposed.
That distinction is noteworthy in a Marbella market where developable land is increasingly valuable and many new projects naturally concentrate density into apartments and multi-family residences.
Here, the planning framework creates a substantially lower-density residential environment.
More than 105,000 m² near La Cañada
Location is one of the most interesting aspects of the scheme.
The land sits immediately north of Marbella’s established urban area, on the northern side of the AP-7 and close to La Cañada Shopping Centre.
That provides relatively quick access to central Marbella while retaining the more open environment of the foothills behind the town.
The development also sits close to Trapiche del Prado, an historic former sugar-industry complex protected as part of Andalucía’s cultural heritage.
That heritage relationship has played an important role in the planning process.
Archaeological investigations and environmental permissions have been required before the urbanisation project could progress, including a favourable Unified Environmental Authorisation from the Junta de Andalucía. Idealista
A plan dating back to 1991
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the story is how long this land has been earmarked for development.
The sector’s Partial Development Plan was approved in April 1991.
In other words, the underlying planning history stretches back approximately 35 years.
That does not mean the current development has been under active construction for three decades. Rather, it illustrates how complex the process of bringing strategically located land into development can be in Marbella.
Environmental considerations, archaeology, infrastructure, land management and changing planning frameworks can all intervene between land being designated for development and homes actually being delivered.
The latest municipal processing is therefore a meaningful milestone — but it should not be interpreted as meaning 156 villas are about to begin construction immediately.
€8 million of infrastructure before the homes
Before residential construction can take place, the wider sector itself has to be urbanised.
Current estimates put those works at approximately €8 million. Idealista
The infrastructure programme includes new roads and pedestrian areas together with drainage, retaining structures, utility networks and other works required to prepare the site.
Approximately 12,500 m² of streets and pedestrian areas are planned. Idealista
The site’s sloping terrain means substantial earthworks and retaining structures are also expected.
Significant green space and public land
The project is not simply allocating the entire 105,000 m² site to private housing.
Plans include more than 25,000 m² of open green areas. Idealista
There are also significant public land transfers associated with the development.
Reporting based on the planning documentation identifies approximately 44,000 m² for public facilities and uses, including provision associated with educational and social facilities. Idealista
A separate approximately 4,000 m² plot is also envisaged for private sporting facilities.
Parking provision includes 251 private spaces and 127 public spaces, including accessible parking. Idealista
The result is closer to the creation of a new neighbourhood than simply the construction of an isolated gated development.
Why this matters for Marbella’s new-build market
Marbella continues to experience considerable demand for high-quality new housing, particularly from international purchasers.
At the same time, bringing meaningful new residential supply to the market is not straightforward.
Suitable land has to navigate planning, environmental requirements, infrastructure provision and increasingly rigorous development standards.
The progression of a 105,000+ m² sector capable of accommodating 156 detached homes is therefore significant.
It creates the potential for additional low-density residential supply relatively close to Marbella town.
Much of Marbella’s established coastal strip is already mature.
Future residential growth increasingly involves carefully unlocking land on the edges of existing urban areas — particularly north of the AP-7 and in eastern Marbella.
Heritage and development working alongside each other
The proximity of Trapiche del Prado adds another dimension.
The historic site dates from Marbella’s former sugar industry and has protected cultural status.
Development close to protected heritage naturally requires additional scrutiny.
Rather than removing that constraint, the planning process has had to incorporate it through archaeological work and environmental assessment. Idealista
That is a useful illustration of the balancing act involved in Marbella’s next generation of urban development: creating new housing while protecting the environmental and historical characteristics that contribute to the municipality’s identity.
Another sign of Marbella’s future development pipeline
The timing is particularly interesting following Marbella’s recent progress on its wider urban-planning framework.
The city continues to work through both major strategic planning and individual sectors capable of supplying future homes.
URP-MB-2 is a good example of how that process works at ground level.
A site identified for development decades ago has passed through environmental, archaeological and technical procedures and is now progressing through detailed urbanisation planning.
The eventual result could be 156 additional detached homes, substantial green areas and new public infrastructure in a strategically located part of Marbella.
It will not transform Marbella’s housing market by itself.
But in a municipality where new land supply is constrained and demand for modern homes remains strong, every sizeable sector that successfully progresses through the planning system matters.
For buyers interested in new and off-plan property, developments like this are worth following well before the first property reaches the market.
Looking for a new or off-plan property in Marbella?
Jason Callow Homes specialises in new and off-plan property throughout Marbella and the Costa del Sol.
We monitor both developments currently available for purchase and the emerging residential pipeline across Marbella, Benahavís, Estepona, Sotogrande, Mijas and the wider Costa del Sol.
For international buyers, this means we can help compare not only today’s available developments, but also locations where new residential supply is expected to emerge.
Whether you are searching for a contemporary apartment, detached villa, branded residence, golf property or beachfront home, contact Jason Callow Homes for our latest selection of new and off-plan opportunities on the Costa del Sol.
Sources & Further Reading
Marbella Town Hall — Official URP-MB-2 planning file
The strongest primary source: Marbella’s official public-planning portal containing the municipal agreement and technical documentation for the consolidated urbanisation project.
SUR — Marbella advances plans for 156 homes near La Cañada
Detailed local reporting on the site, developer, proposed homes, public land and approximately €8 million urbanisation programme.
idealista/news — New residential district planned in northern Marbella
Useful detail on the 105,000+ m² site, housing numbers, green areas, parking and infrastructure programme.
El Español Málaga — Environmental authorisation for the Tenis de Marbella sector
Background on the Junta de Andalucía’s environmental approval and the project’s progression through the planning process.
