PROPERTY SEARCH
Camposol breathes a sigh of relief as Council approves restrictions on biogas plants
The Camposol Legal Platform against Biogas welcomes the new bylaws and looks forward to the final part of the procedure to confirm the legislation
Item two on the agenda of Mazarrón Council’s pleno meeting on Tuesday July 28, 2026, looked innocuous enough: Proposal on the "Progress of the specific non-structural modification of the General Municipal Plan of Urban Planning of Mazarrón no 80", but for the Camposol Legal Platform against Biogas and the residents of the Camposol urbanisation and the surrounding area, it was something they had been waiting for, for over 12 months.
At the beginning of July 2025, a planning proposal was published by the Regional Government outlining the plans for the construction of a Biomethane and Biofertilizer plant just over one kilometre from the boundary of the Camposol residential development. This prompted a group of local business owners and homeowners to form the Camposol Legal Platform Against Biogas, promoted by the Green Camposol Association, to look into ways to challenge the proposed plant.
The platform engaged a firm of lawyers and also started talking to Mazarrón Council who, at that time, had not received any planning application for said plan. Funds were raised by the platform via a fiesta and opening an online Go Fund Me page, part of the proceeds of which went to fund a 176-page environmental technical report by specialist company Método Ambiental Consultants SL, which questioned the detail of the planning application.
This report was handed to Mazarrón Council’s town planning department and, in conjunction with the department’s own research, the planning department decided that planning laws should be revised to take into consideration not only Biogas plants but also other facilities not contemplated in older planning laws.
Modifications to the planning laws were drafted in which the following concerning Biogas plant location is included:
“Biogas plants are facilities or infrastructure for the production of energy obtained from agricultural activity, in which a waste management and treatment process is carried out. They must comply with applicable supra-municipal regulations, and specifically with the minimum distances to urban areas and population centres established in these Regulations.
Due to their characteristics, they may only be located on Non-Urbanizable (undeveloped) land, in suitable environmental and isolation settings, complying with the minimum distances established below and with the environmental impact guarantees required by the corresponding environmental assessment declaration.
- 3,000 metres (3 Kilometres) from the urban area of the town of Mazarrón and Puerto de Mazarrón, as well as population centres originating from developed urbanizable land areas, such as existing residential developments (Camposol, Country Club, Rusticana, etc.), outlying districts, schools, health centres and medical clinics, as well as legal tourist establishments, regardless of their location within the municipality of Mazarrón, and those considered population centres.
- 500 metres from listed natural springs or sources.
- 100 metres. from ravines or watercourses included in the Inventory of Watercourses of the Region of Murcia with a Horton-Strahler classification of 3 or higher and within 100 meters of public watercourses under the jurisdiction of the Segura River Basin Authority.
- 2,500 metres from land designated for development. If the overall use is residential, a minimum of 3,000 metres must be respected.”
This is part of the innocuous looking motion that was presented in the pleno on July 28, with a crowd of supporters outside the pleno building. A small contingent of Platform representatives attended the meeting to listen to the proposal and the comments made by the various political groups, after which the representatives were delighted to see the motion approved unanimously by all parties.
The Platform contingent wasted no time in reporting the news to the gathering outside who greeted the news with loud cheers.
The last part of the process is for the new legislation to be published on the regional government's bulletin board (BORM) for 20 days, during which time any comments and suggestions can be put forward. After this, the amended legislation will come into force.
As previously stated by the Camposol Legal Platform against Biogas, “The Platform wants to make it clear that the opposition is not directed against biogas plants in general, which can be part of the circular economy and a sustainable energy model, but against those locations that may negatively affect the quality of life, safety, the residential environment and the well-being of residents”.
Image: Helen Renwick Rooke
See more environmental news about Spain:
OR
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin to get a comprehensive email with all the week’s news for Spain, Murcia, Alicante and Andalucía.
Get a sneak peek – here are a few of our recent Subscription Bulletins:
Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
